Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov is set to join the Phoenix Suns as the NBA’s first-ever head coach born outside of the US.
The NBA Playoffs are still in full swing and the Utah Jazz are doing their best to shock the world against the West’s top-seeded Houston Rockets. However, the team has already incurred a major offseason loss for the second consecutive year.
Igor Kokoskov — the top assistant to Jazz coach Quin Snyder — has officially accepted an offer from the Phoenix Suns to become their 19th head coach. Kokoskov previously spent five years with the Suns from 2008-13 as an assistant. It was during that time that he became an American citizen.
When he begins his tenure as the Suns’ head coach, he’ll make history as the first-ever non-American to lead an NBA bench on a full-time basis.
Last summer, it was Gordon Hayward who left the Jazz in the lurch. This time there’s no ill will; Kokoskov’s impending departure shouldn’t leave the same bad taste in anyone’s mouth. Nevertheless, there’s no sugar-coating the situation — this is a major blow to the Jazz bench.
Meanwhile, the Suns snatched a keeper.
The suns got a great one. Well deserved!! Congrats coach Igor!! https://t.co/VjZPQBiU7a
— Jonas Jerebko (@JonasJerebko) May 3, 2018
Kokoskov has been a key cog in Utah’s developmental program since he joined the Jazz in 2015. Just this season, he played an integral role in revitalizing Ricky Rubio after the point guard crash-landed in Salt Lake City.
It’s that developmental track record that makes him an ideal fit for the Suns; a squad featuring young guns like Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender.
That said, his work with the Jazz has hardly been revelatory. Kokoskov has been part of the NBA grind for nearly two decades. Last summer, his coaching stock reached an all-time high when he led Goran Dragic and the Slovenian national team to a EuroBasket title.
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Kokoskov is the third straight Jazzman to be hired as head coach for the Suns. Jeff Hornacek and Earl Watson preceded him on the bench. Former Jazzmen Mehmet Okur and Tyrone Corbin served on Watson’s staff.