Anadolu Efes Istanbul has reached a new agreement with head coach Ergin Ataman to keep working together for two more years, until the end of the 2022-23 season, the club announced Thursday.
Efes, Ataman stay together til 2023
Euroleague News
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Ataman, age 55, is in his third stint on the Efes bench and has led the club to a new golden era. In 2019, Ataman guided Efes to its first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game just one year after the club had finished last in the competition, in what is considered one of the biggest turnaround's in basketball history at the elite level. He and Efes also won the club's first Turkish League title in 10 years that season. Over the last three seasons, Ataman has a 72-31 EuroLeague record (68.6%) with Efes.
Ataman had previously coached Efes from 1999 to 2001 and from 2008 and 2010. He guided the team to its first Final Four in 2000 and to the Turkish League title in 2009. Ataman also led Montepaschi Siena to the 2002 Saporta Cup crown and the 2003 EuroLeague Final Four. For five years, Ataman coached Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul, with whom he won the 2016 7DAYS EuroCup crown as well as the Turkish League title in 2013. Ataman started his coaching career with Turk Telekom Ankara in 1996. He has also coached Fortitudo Bologna in Italy as well as Pinar Karsiyaka, Ulker and Besiktas in his native Turkey, winning the 2012 FIBA Euro Challenge and Turkish League titles with the latter. In addition, Ataman coached the Turkish national team from 2014 to 2016. He has been on the bench for 291 EuroLeague games this century, with a 144-147 record (49.5% wins).