Dave Roberts Wants to Coach Team USA at 2028 Olympics

It looks like a major league player might actually take part in the Olympics—big news, right? If that’s the case, Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager, has made it clear who he would like to see at the helm of the U.S. team.

He wants to be that person.

“I want to coach the Olympic team,” Roberts shared with the California Post. “I want to manage that team right here in Los Angeles.”

Roberts went on to outline why he feels he’s fit for the role. With the Olympics set to take place in Los Angeles, and baseball games being hosted at Dodger Stadium, he emphasized his connection to the area.

“I went to school here,” said the UCLA alum. “I’m the manager of the Dodgers. That’s pretty straightforward.”

Notably, Roberts previously represented the U.S. in the 1999 Pan American Games, where the team finished second and subsequently qualified for the 2000 Olympics, ultimately winning gold under coach Tommy Lasorda.

Interestingly, Roberts didn’t mention another fact about himself: he has a diverse heritage, being the son of an African-American father and a Japanese mother, which aligns with Los Angeles’s rich cultural landscape.

And here’s a touch of patriotism—Roberts’ late father, Waymon, dedicated three decades to the Marine Corps.

“In Los Angeles, I want to manage that team,” he reiterated. “I’m invested in this more than anyone else.”

Players like Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani have also expressed interest in participating in the Olympics. Harper has said he wants in, and Ohtani made a similar comment back in 2024.

However, in previous Olympics, the U.S. has sent teams largely made up of college players or minor leaguers, mainly because MLB hasn’t stopped its season to accommodate international play. Meanwhile, Japan has fielded professional players for each of the last four Olympic tournaments featuring baseball.

For stars like Ohtani and Harper to participate, there needs to be an agreement struck between Major League Baseball, the players’ union, and the LA28 organizing committee. But there’s some optimism on that front. Commissioner Rob Manfred feels hopeful that they can reach a deal. A key obstacle was cleared when LA28 revised the baseball schedule last November, only slightly extending MLB’s All-Star break.

The Olympics are set to kick off on July 13, just one day ahead of the opening ceremony, with the finals scheduled for July 19. If everything aligns, MLB could hold its All-Star Game as usual on Tuesday, July 11.