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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Seth Greenberg has been named the Head Coach for the USA Open Men’s Basketball Team competing at the 19^th World Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 2013. Greenberg just completed his ninth season as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Virginia Tech where, prior to this season, the Hokies had made five consecutive post-season appearances and have six total post-season appearances during his tenure. “We at Maccabi USA are very excited that Seth Greenberg has accepted this appointment as Head Coach for the Open Men’s Basketball Team,” said Marc Rosenberg, Chairman, USA Open Men’s Basketball. “As a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coach of the year, he has the leadership and ability to lead Team USA to a Gold Medal at the 19^th Maccabiah Games.”

Greenberg has a career record of 383 – 293 in 22 seasons as a collegiate head coach and a 170 – 123 record in nine seasons at Virginia Tech. Since coming to Virginia Tech, Greenberg’s Hokies have three wins over No. 1 ranked teams, including, most recently, a 64 – 60 victory over top-ranked Duke on February 26, 2011. He has also been named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2008. Additionally, Greenberg was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

He has always been involved with charitable organizations and causes. When asked why he volunteered to be the Coach for Maccabi USA’s Open Men’s Basketball Team at the 19^th Maccabiah Games in Israel, Greenberg responded, “This volunteer position is important to me because anytime you can represent your country and your faith in the same event, it’s something very special. Having participated previously as an assistant coach at the 13^th Maccabiah Games in 1989, it was a life-altering experience. I look forward to representing the USA and bringing a great group of athletes with me to Israel to share that same experience.”

Greenberg will be using his vast network of contacts around the country to identify all the best, young, Jewish players and hopes to put together a Team that plays with great passion, a great energy and a sense of purpose as they represent the USA at the Maccabiah Games in July, 2013. He will be planning two tryouts in August, one in New Jersey and one in California, and plans to have the details for the tryouts confirmed in the next month.

“I want good, young people that are going to work hard, be good teammates, be trusting of each other and understand what a tremendous experience this will be for them,” Greenberg said of the Team he will be recruiting. “I want them to be highly competitive, tough players with a high basketball IQ. It is really important to me to have a team that is committed to playing winning basketball, committed to competing at the highest level and understand that it’s the good of the group and playing to win is the ultimate goal.”

Applications for the team are available at www.maccabiusa.com and details for the tryouts will be posted on the site as soon as they are confirmed.

The Maccabiah Games are about more than just sport. From around the world, thousands of Jewish athletes come to the State of Israel. For two unforgettable weeks, Jews of all ages and backgrounds convene to share their culture, history and values. And, of course, they come to compete. The World Maccabiah Games, sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, is the third largest international sporting event in the world. There is something magical about the Maccabiah Games, a certain feeling that touches the heart and soul of all who participates. It is not a feeling that abruptly fades away at the conclusion of the competition. Rather, it lasts a lifetime.

About the organization:

Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.

MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.

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