By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Igor Kokoskov will become the new head coach of the Serbian national team, Direktno reports, citing sources close to the Serbian Federation. Serbia’s head coach position has been vacant after Sasha Djordjevic stepped down following the completion of the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Kokoskov, 47, is currently an assistant coach to Luke Walton on the Sacramento Kings. According to Direktno, the Kings have already given the “OK” to Kokoskov to take over the “Orlovi” and coach them in the upcoming Olympic Games Qualifiers. One of the four qualifying tournaments will be hosted in Belgrade.
In 2017, Kokoskov led Slovenia to the gold medal in the EuroBasket, a first-time achievement in the history of the country. The following May, he became the first European-born to be appointed head coach of an NBA team by being hired by the Phoenix Suns. The Serbian coach was fired in April 2019.
Kokoskov, who has been an assistant in such NBA clubs as the L.A. Clippers, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Orlando Magic, is currently coaching two Serbian players and prominent members of the national team on the Kings: Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nemanja Bjelica.
After Panathinaikos parted ways with coach Argiris Pedoulakis, Kokoskov emerged as a candidate for the post.