Zmago Sagadin

Zmago Sagadin (/sɑːˈɡɑːdɪn/; born 1 November 1952 in Celje) is widely considered as the most successful Slovenian and top European basketball coach with 25 championship titles both on a national and international level,[1] recognized 9 times as Slovenian Top Coach of the Year[2] and recipient of many other honorary awards.

Zmago Sagadin
Sagadin in 2006
Personal information
Born (1952-11-01) 1 November 1952
Celje, PR Slovenia, FPR Yugoslavia
NationalitySlovenian
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
Playing career1974–present
Career history
1974–1981Libela Celje
1981–1985Maribor
1985–1994Smelt Olimpija
1995–1996KK Split (Croatia Osiguranje)
1996–2002Union Olimpija
2002–2004Crvena zvezda
2005–2006Union Olimpija
2006–2007Lietuvos rytas
2008Anwil Włocławek
2009–2010Zadar
2011–2014Helios Domžale
2014MZT Skopje

Zmago is known for his outstanding work with young players, which resulted in 11 of his players to move on to compete in NBA – developing more NBA players than any other coach in Europe – and helped numerous others to achieve the highest European level.

Zmago last worked as head coach of MZT Skopje in 2014/2015 season, but has been active as a sports commentator, basketball strategy consultant and mentor. From 2011 to 2014, Sagadin was head of staff at KK Helios Domžale, where he formed a center for development of young basketball talents, including Klemen Prepelič, Gregor Hrovat, Blaž Mahkovic and Matic Rebec.

Sagadin is known for his development of players who compete internationally and in NBA.[3] Success of Union Olimpija Ljubljana (formerly Smelt Olimpija), during his time coaching the team, contributed to establishing basketball as part of Slovenian sport culture and recognition of Union Olimpija as a reputable European club.

Zmago is also the founder of Slovenia's first national basketball team and co-founder of the Adriatic Basketball League,[4] author of basketball-related articles,[5] served eight years as a President of Slovenian Basketball Coaches Association, and lectures for KZS, FIBA and ULEB-organized seminars and clinics.

Career achievements

Club Titles

and

Awards
  • Slovenian Coach of the Year[6] – 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02

Players

He developed many great basketball players: Beno Udrih, Primož Brezec, Boštjan Nachbar, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Jiří Welsch, Marko Milič, Vladimir Stepania, Soumaila Samake, Radisav Ćurčić (former NBA), Vladimir Boisa, Sani Bečirovič, Nikola Vujčić, Vlado Ilievski, Gregor Fučka, Jurica Golemac, Ariel McDonald, Marko Tušek, Boris Gorenc, Jasmin Hukić, Ivica Jurković, Gregor Hafner, Klemen Prepelič.

He helped the career of Igor Rakočević, Scoonie Penn, Obinna Ekezie, Mindaugas Žukauskas, Sandro Nicević, Yotam Halperin.

Coaches

Sagadin served as a mentor to many of his former assistant coaches and players who are now head coaches:

See also

About

Interviews

References
  1. Eurobasket: Zmago Sagadin Profile, Eurobasket.com, retrieved 2007-12-20.
  2. ZKTS Awards Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, kzs-zveza.si, retrieved 2007-12-15.
  3. Union Olimpija.com, "Union Olimpija NBA Players," Union Olimpija official web site, 2016
  4. ABA, "The Coach – Zmago Sagadin," ABA official web site, 2007
  5. Zmago Sagadin, "Defense Is a Constant," Fiba Assist Magazine, 2005
  6. "ZKTS Awards" Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, kzs-zveza.si, retrieved 2007-12-15.
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