WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Phoenix Suns have agreed to terms with Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov to become the team's new head coach next season, making him the first head coach born and raised outside North America in NBA history, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
Kokoskov will begin his duties as Suns' head coach following the conclusion of the Jazz season.
"We are thrilled to bring Igor Kokoskov back to Arizona as head coach of the Phoenix Suns," said the team's 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 has always had a player development focus, a creative style of play and a track record of success."
Kokoskov, 46, will be the 19th head coach in franchise history. He is currently in his third season as an assistant coach with the Jazz. Kokoskov has helped the Jazz reach the Western Conference Semifinals in each of the past two seasons as the team's lead assistant coach.
Kokoskov previously worked with the Suns as an assistant coach from 2008-2013.
