SACRAMENTO, Calif. —- The Basketball Federation of Serbia today announced that Igor Kokoskov has been named Head Coach of the Serbian National Team ahead of the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Kokoskov, 47, is currently an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings after most recently serving as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns during the 2018-19 season and brings 19 seasons of experience in the NBA. He holds the distinction of becoming the first non-American born head coach in the NBA (2018), the first non-American assistant to serve on an NBA All-Star Game coaching staff (2006), and the first full-time, non-American assistant coach in league history (2000).
“Igor brings tremendous experience to our team and I know this opportunity to represent his country is a source of great pride for him,” said Kings Head Coach Luke Walton. “While his accomplishments internationally and throughout the NBA are impressive, more importantly he is an incredible human being who serves as an invaluable mentor for his players and key member of my coaching staff. On behalf of our entire team, it is my pleasure to congratulate Igor on this immense honor.”
Kokoskov has served as an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz (2015-18), Orlando Magic (2014-15), Cleveland Cavaliers (2013-14), Phoenix Suns (2008-13), Detroit Pistons (2003-08), and Los Angeles Clippers (2000-03). Kokoskov also worked with the Suns as an assistant coach from 2008-2013 and was on the bench for the team’s 2010 Western Conference Finals run. Kokoskov has been on the coaching staff of seven teams to reach the Conference Finals, two teams to reach the NBA Finals and won an NBA title as an assistant coach with the Pistons in 2004, becoming the first non-American assistant to be an NBA Champion.
A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Kokoskov is an accomplished international coach on top of his extensive NBA experience. As head coach of the Slovenian national team from 2016-2017, Kokoskov guided the nation to a gold-medal finish and perfect 9-0 record at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 as Slovenia captured its first-ever European Championship. He also was head coach of the Georgian national team from 2008-2015, qualifying for EuroBasket three times which Georgia had never accomplished previously. In 1999, Kokoskov became the first European coach to hold a full-time position with an NCAA Division I basketball program as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri under Quin Snyder. Kokoskov and Snyder reunited in the NBA on the Utah Jazz coaching staff.
