Kentucky Basketball assistant coach has been appointed head coach of the Bahamas National Team, the organization confirmed Wednesday. His tenure will officially begin with World Cup qualifying games in July.
“It is a great honor to be named the head coach for The Bahamas Senior Men’s National Team,” McLean said in a press release. “It is something I’ve dreamed of since becoming a coach. Representing my country is something that I take immense pride in and will never take it for granted. This is particularly special for me, as I know my parents would be extremely proud.
“I want to thank Chris DeMarco for laying the foundation and putting The Bahamas in the position to compete at the highest level. Our goal remains the same, and that is to get this team to the World Cup and the Olympics. Our first opportunity begins this summer, and I can’t wait to get on the court and compete with our players, coaches, and the support of the greatest little country in the world.”
McLean’s responsibilities with the Wildcats will remain unchanged. He is expected to miss a portion of summer practice but will rejoin the program full-time when the fall semester begins.
“I want to also thank Coach Pope and our staff for supporting this dream,” McLean said. “Since the moment I became a Wildcat, Coach Pope has pushed us all to chase our goals, and that leadership is incredibly meaningful as I take on this opportunity.”
McLean was hired as an assistant coach for the Wildcats in June 2024.
“Mikhail McLean is one of the bright young coaching stars in basketball right now,” Mark Pope said in a press release. “He is the perfect person to lead this star-studded Bahamas National Team.”
A native of The Bahamas, McLean has been part of the national team coaching setup since 2021.
Team Bahamas reached a milestone in 2024, falling just one win short of Olympic qualification after losing the championship game to Spain on home soil. Prior to that, the team recorded notable victories over world-ranked opponents, including wins against Poland and Finland, as well as a triumph over Lebanon during Olympic qualifying.
In 2023, The Bahamas also earned two wins over Argentina, ranked fourth in the world, during the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament.
The Bahamas will now enter the final window of the first round in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers, needing two wins to secure advancement to the second round.
Their first matchup is set for July 3 against Jamaica, followed by a clash with Puerto Rico on July 6. Both games will be held at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau.
Entering the window, The Bahamas and Puerto Rico are tied at 1-3 with five points each. Canada has already clinched one of three advancing spots with a perfect 4-0 record and eight points, while Jamaica sits second at 2-2 with six points.
Only the top three teams in the group will move on to the second round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers.
