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After the Phoenix Suns fired head coach and former Jazzman Earl Watson just three games into the season, it was no secret that they’d be looking for options besides Jay Triano to replace him. Today this news broke:
New name for the Suns coaching search - Phoenix will interview Utah assistant coach Igor Kokoskov for their vacant head coaching job. Former Rockets coach Kevin McHale and Spurs assistant James Borrego are also candidates.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) April 20, 2018
Coach Kokoskov and Quin Snyder go way back. All the way back to 1999, in fact, when Quin was head coach at the University of Missouri and Kokoskov was an assistant. In addition to his time with Quin, he’s been an assistant coach for several different NBA and national teams. He’s filled two head coaching positions, taking the helm for the Georgian and Slovenian national teams.
Not insignificant in all this is Igor’s connection to the Suns organization, with which he spent five years as an assistant.
The Jazz would miss Coach Kokoskov, but we’d wish him the best should get the Phoenix job and choose to take it.