Phoenix Suns Appoint Igor Kokoskov as Head Coach

Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov will become head coach of the Phoenix Suns at the conclusion of Utah’s season.

Igor Kokoskov will be the first head coach in the NBA not born and raised in the United States. The Serbia native has agreed a three-year contract with the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN

The Utah Jazz are currently losing their Western Conference semifinal series 1 – 0 to the Houston Rockets. If the tie goes according to form, Igor Kokoskov will take up duties in Phoenix sooner rather than later.

Reportedly, Suns general manager Ryan McDonough met with Kokoskov before game one of that series on Sunday. The urgency is understandable, given the the Phoenix Suns were the NBA’s worst team last season.

It will take a major rebuild to improve on their 21 – 61 record, and Kokoskov has the right CV.

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During his 18-year assistant coaching career, he spent 5 years with the Suns between 2008 – 2013. A big part of Phoenix’s plans going forward will be young shooting guard Devin Brooker.

Fortunately for the Suns, Kokoskov has a solid track record of developing young talent with the Utah Jazz.

The 46-year old has proven experience in coaching underdog teams. Last summer, he coached the Slovenian national team to an unlikely EuroBasket tournament championship win.

Ryan McDonough said he was ‘thrilled’ to appoint Kokoskov as the team’s coach.

“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.”