The Serbian tactician returns to the EuroLeague after four years away
Efes names Igor Kokoskov as its head coach
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul has appointed Igor Kokoskov as its new head coach on a three-year deal.
Kokoskov, 53, returns to Istanbul for a second run at coaching in the EuroLeague. His previous experience in Europe's premier competition came with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, which he led to a 20-16 record and an appearance in the 2021 EuroLeague Playoffs.
The native of Serbia has spent most of his professional career in the NBA and in 2018, he made history when he became the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, making him the first head coach in NBA history who was not born in North America. Over the past four years, he has been an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets and – the past two seasons – the Atlanta Hawks.
Kokoskov began his coaching career with OKK Belgrade and was a youth team coach for Partizan before his move to the United States. After spending time as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri, he took on the same role in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings.
Kokoskov has also coached the Georgian, Slovenian and Serbian national teams. He made history in 2017 by leading the Slovenian national team to the gold medal at EuroBasket 2017, a first for that country.