Michael Bree

Michael Bree is an Irish basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Ireland men's national basketball team. A former Ireland international and team captain, he played professionally in several European leagues before transitioning into coaching.

Early life and education Bree is from Sligo, Ireland. In 1998, he moved to the United States to pursue basketball opportunities and later attended Davidson College in North Carolina. He played for the Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team and served as captain in both his junior and senior seasons. Bree was named the team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in consecutive seasons.

Playing career

College career Bree played NCAA Division I basketball at Davidson College, where he established himself as a leading player for the Wildcats. His performances earned him back-to-back MVP awards.

He later moved to Sweden, where he worked extensively in youth development. Bree served as head coach of Sweden’s U16 and U18 men's national teams and was programme director at RIG Mark Basketball, helping develop elite youth players. He officially took up the role in September 2025 on a four-year contract, with responsibility for leading the team into the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers.

Alongside his head coaching role, Bree was also appointed Head of Player Pathway Coaching and Content with Basketball Ireland, overseeing youth development structures.