The Austin Spurs' bench boss is adding patriot to his job description. Coach Will Voigt hilariously donned the Captain America getup to celebrate forward RaiQuan Gray's selection to play for Team USA in the upcoming FIBA Men's AmeriCup Qualifying games. With a star-spangled performance, Voigt charged onto the hardwood, rallying the troops with a speech that could easily double as a Marvel movie script.
According to KENS 5, Voigt shouted, "Is there any man that stands among you that stands able to go downhill and punish a mismatch. Who will stand with me? Could it be you, my friend? Let's fight! USA! USA!" His antics serve as a fitting salute to Gray's standout performance with the team, who's been dropping an impressive 18.2 points on average in 18 regular season games, as well as snatching 6.6 rebounds, and dishing out 3.7 assists. Folks can root for Gray when Team USA takes on Cuba come February 22.
But who exactly is Will Voigt, the man behind this stripe-spangled salute? It seems like the Spurs have snagged a serious globetrotter, more than used to racking up the passport stamps. Voigt, before taking on the role of head honcho in Austin, played his trade in the Egyptian Basketball Super League with Zamalek for a season. His resume reads like a bonafide hoop journeyman, with stops including coaching the Angolan national team and a gig with the Shanxi Dragons in China.
No stranger to the Spurs family, Voigt began his NBA journey as an intern with the Los Angeles Clippers. He then settled in San Antonio as a video coordinator. Voigt later coached the Vermont Frost Heaves and the Bakersfield Jam for five seasons before joining Austin. Willis Hall and Pierre Parker, both with Spurs experience, are also joining the coaching staff, as reported by KSAT.
As for the star-spangled player in focus, Gray has more than earned his stripes, and the upcoming qualifying game in Kissimmee, Fla., is a shot to showcase his skills on an international platform. After all, it's not every day you get to wear "USA" across your chest, especially with Captain America cheering from the sidelines.
