By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The head coach of the Latvian national team and former coach of Nizhny Novgorod, Ainars Bagatskis, is the new coach of David Blatt in Dogus Darussafaka.
Bagatskis who was among the candidates for the bench of Alba Berlin, decided to cooperate with Blatt, even if this means that he will not be the head coach of his new team. Bagatskis began his coaching career in 2005–06 season, while playing his last season of the professional basketball in Barons Rīga, where he stayed for one season. In 2006, he had a short stint as a head coach in one of Zalgiris Kaunas. Since 2007, he worked as a head coach in several teams, including Valmiera until 2009, Russian team Enisey Krasnoyarsk in 2009–10 season, Sukhumi and Kryvbasbasket until 2012.
Following the departure of Kestutis Kemzūra, in February 2010, he became the head coach of the Latvian national team. In June 2012, he became a head coach of the Ukrainian team Budivelnyk Kiev. He stayed with them for two seasons, winning the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague two times, in 2013 and 2014. In 2013–14 season, his team made its first Euroleague appearance in history. On July 1, 2014, he signed with Nizhny Novgorod and Dogus is the next chapter in his career.
Ainars Bagatskis signed contract with Darussafaka Dogus for next two seasons! He ll be the 1st assistant of David Blatt! #BeoBasket
— Misko4Raznatovic (@MiskoRaznatovic) June 18, 2016