OLYMPICS: Snoop Dogg named honorary coach of Team USA ahead of 2026 Winter Games

LOS ANGELES — Rapper and entertainment mogul Snoop Dogg has officially joined Team USA as its first-ever honorary coach, a role the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) hopes will bring a touch of West Coast swagger to the American delegation at the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Games.

The USOPC announced on Thursday that “Coach Snoop” will be part of the “Team Behind the Team” — the collective of staff, coaches, medical professionals, administrators, and partners who support U.S. athletes as they pursue medals in Italy.

“Team USA athletes are the real stars — I’m just here to cheer, uplift, and maybe drop a little wisdom from the sidelines,” Snoop said in a statement.

“This team represents the best of what sport can be: talent, heart, and hustle. If I can bring a little more love and motivation to that, that’s a win for me.”

USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland said Snoop’s first interactions with Team USA athletes felt less like a promotional collaboration and more like a natural locker-room connection.

“From the moment Snoop met Team USA athletes, there was an instant bond — mutual respect, genuine curiosity, and a lot of laughter,” Hirshland said. “His enthusiasm for the Olympic and Paralympic movement is contagious, and we’re thrilled to officially welcome him as part of the Team Behind the Team.”

Snoop, born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., was a familiar face during the Paris Olympics, serving as a hype man for Team USA and performing at a beach event in his hometown of Long Beach during the handover ceremony for Los Angeles 2028.

“From the moment I rolled into Paris, I felt instantly welcomed into the USOPC family,” he said. “I felt the energy, the pride, and the love of sport that make this team special. The way the staff lifts up the athletes… the way the athletes inspire the world… it had me hooked from day one.”

The 54-year-old Californian also has a long history in grassroots sports through the Snoop Youth Football League, which the USOPC says has supported more than 15,000 young athletes, including children with disabilities.

His honorary coaching role adds to his previously announced position with Olympic broadcaster NBCUniversal for coverage of the Milano Cortina Games, further solidifying his unexpected but increasingly enduring presence in the Olympic scene.

“This is just the beginning,” Snoop said. “Let’s fire up Team USA together.” -Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters