Since Igor Kokoskov left the Utah Jazz to become the first NBA head coach born outside North America, the Jazz have had a hole in their coaching staff.
According to a report, they’re filling it by reaching for another overseas coach.
Eurohoop reported the Jazz will be hiring Greek coach Fotis Katsikaris as an assistant on the staff. Katsikaris has coached throughout Europe, including stints in Greece, Russia, Spain and Israel. In 2013 while coaching Spanish league team Bilbao, he was named Coach of the Year in EuroCup, the second-tier continental European league behind EuroLeague. He last served as head coach of Iberostar Tenerife.
Katsikaris has also served as the head coach of the Russian and Greek men’s national teams. He coached Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2016 while leading Greece.
According to Eurohoop, Katsikaris would be the first Greek coach to serve on an NBA coaching staff.
The Jazz have been able to maintain relative consistency on staff under coach Quin Snyder: Despite speculation that Kokoskov, who left for the Phoenix Suns, might try to hire away others with the Jazz, the staff has otherwise remained intact.
General manager Dennis Lindsey said last month that he expected to retain most of the Jazz assistants, and in the time since, Utah has promoted Antonio Lang to the front of the bench and quietly extended Johnnie Bryant.
According to sources, Alex Jensen will be the lead assistant in Kokoskov’s place. Bryant and Lang will be the other two assistant coaches on the Bench with Jensen and Snyder.
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