Igor Kokoškov will be the Suns new head coach. According to the team, he’ll be the first head coach in NBA history born and raised outside of North America. He’s a native of Serbia.
Kokoškov has been an assistant coach in the NBA since 2000, including a stint with the Suns from 2008 to 2013. In 2010 he became a U.S. citizen in a ceremony at Talking Stick Resort Arena. In their press release announcing the hire, the Suns said Kokoškov and his family have kept a home in the Valley since he worked for the team.
Kokoškov is currently an assistant with the Utah Jazz and he’ll start with Phoenix as soon as the Jazz finish their season. They face the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals. According to ESPN, Kokoškov signed a three-year deal.
The Suns ended their season with the league’s worst record.