Phoenix Suns didn’t take long to start making changes after another unsuccessful season. The team announced on Monday night that they have fired their head coach Igor Kokoskov.  The 47-year-old Serbian spent just one full season with the Suns. 

“After extensive evaluation, I determined it is best to move in a different direction with our head coaching position,” – said Suns general manager James Jones. “I want to thank Igor for his work this past season and wish him the best with his future endeavors.”

According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Suns decided to fire Kokoskov now so they could pursuit Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams. Phoenix wanted to act quickly as Williams recently emerges as one of the top candidates for the head coaching vacancy with Los Angeles Lakers.

Igor Kokoskov spent the majority of his coaching career as an assistant in the NBA, working with Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz among other organizations. He also served as a head coach for Slovenia men’s basketball team with whom he managed to win an unlikely EuroBasket title in 2017.

Kokoskov was hired as Phoenix Suns’ head coach in May 2018 and was tasked with transforming one of the worst teams in the NBA into a contender once again. That turned out to be an impossible task since roster lacked proper solutions at a point guard position and organization showed signs of deep dysfunction.

Suns ended the 2018/19 regular season last in the Western Conference with a 19-63 record. This extended the franchise’s postseason drought to nine seasons.

The post Suns Fire Head Coach Igor Kokoskov appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Phoenix Suns have hired Utah Jazz’s assistant coach Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach. The team announced the news on Wednesday with ESPN reporting that Kokoskov signed a three-year deal. This will be the second time serving with the organization for the 46-year-old Serbian since he previously served as an assistant coach with the Suns from 2008 to 2013.

“We are thrilled to bring Valley resident Igor Kokoskov back to Arizona as head coach of the Phoenix Suns,” – said Suns’ general manager Ryan McDonough. “Igor has been a pioneer throughout his basketball career and he brings a wealth of high level coaching experience to our club. He was one of the first non-American born assistant coaches at both the NCAA and NBA levels and his most recent head coaching stint includes leading the Slovenian national team to the 2017 EuroBasket title, which was the first European title in the history of the country. Igor’s teams have always had a player development focus, a creative style of play and a track record of success.“

Igor Kokoskov started his coaching career in his native Serbia, before landing an assistant coaching job with Missouri Tigers. He was hired by Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant in 2000 and went on to serve in the same role with Detroit Pistons, with whom he won the 2004 NBA Championship. Kokoskov also served as an assistant for Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic before being hired by Utah Jazz in 2015. Most recently, he served as a coach for Slovenia’s national basketball team during EuroBasket 2017 and led the team on an unexpected championship run.

Kokoskov will take over the Suns once the Jazz finishes their season and by doing so he will become the first person that wasn’t born and raised in the United States to serve as a head coach for an NBA team.

The post Phoenix Suns Hire Utah Jazz’s Assistant Igor Kokoskov as New Head Coach appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Phoenix Suns didn’t take long to start making changes after another unsuccessful season. The team announced on Monday night that they have fired their head coach Igor Kokoskov.  The 47-year-old Serbian spent just one full season with the Suns. 

“After extensive evaluation, I determined it is best to move in a different direction with our head coaching position,” – said Suns general manager James Jones. “I want to thank Igor for his work this past season and wish him the best with his future endeavors.”

According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Suns decided to fire Kokoskov now so they could pursuit Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams. Phoenix wanted to act quickly as Williams recently emerges as one of the top candidates for the head coaching vacancy with Los Angeles Lakers.

Igor Kokoskov spent the majority of his coaching career as an assistant in the NBA, working with Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz among other organizations. He also served as a head coach for Slovenia men’s basketball team with whom he managed to win an unlikely EuroBasket title in 2017.

Kokoskov was hired as Phoenix Suns’ head coach in May 2018 and was tasked with transforming one of the worst teams in the NBA into a contender once again. That turned out to be an impossible task since roster lacked proper solutions at a point guard position and organization showed signs of deep dysfunction.

Suns ended the 2018/19 regular season last in the Western Conference with a 19-63 record. This extended the franchise’s postseason drought to nine seasons.

The post Suns Fire Head Coach Igor Kokoskov appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Phoenix Suns have hired Utah Jazz’s assistant coach Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach. The team announced the news on Wednesday with ESPN reporting that Kokoskov signed a three-year deal. This will be the second time serving with the organization for the 46-year-old Serbian since he previously served as an assistant coach with the Suns from 2008 to 2013.

“We are thrilled to bring Valley resident Igor Kokoskov back to Arizona as head coach of the Phoenix Suns,” – said Suns’ general manager Ryan McDonough. “Igor has been a pioneer throughout his basketball career and he brings a wealth of high level coaching experience to our club. He was one of the first non-American born assistant coaches at both the NCAA and NBA levels and his most recent head coaching stint includes leading the Slovenian national team to the 2017 EuroBasket title, which was the first European title in the history of the country. Igor’s teams have always had a player development focus, a creative style of play and a track record of success.“

Igor Kokoskov started his coaching career in his native Serbia, before landing an assistant coaching job with Missouri Tigers. He was hired by Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant in 2000 and went on to serve in the same role with Detroit Pistons, with whom he won the 2004 NBA Championship. Kokoskov also served as an assistant for Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic before being hired by Utah Jazz in 2015. Most recently, he served as a coach for Slovenia’s national basketball team during EuroBasket 2017 and led the team on an unexpected championship run.

Kokoskov will take over the Suns once the Jazz finishes their season and by doing so he will become the first person that wasn’t born and raised in the United States to serve as a head coach for an NBA team.

The post Phoenix Suns Hire Utah Jazz’s Assistant Igor Kokoskov as New Head Coach appeared first on SportzBonanza.