By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Seeking better days, Bahcesehir Koleji seems to be eyeing an experienced head coach.
Dejan Radonjic is a candidate to take over the reins, according to Serbian outlet Meridian sport.
Under the guidance of Turkish play-caller Sinan Atalay, Bahcesehir Koleji is up to 2-0 in Group L of the FIBA Europe Cup, following a 5-1 run in Group D of the Regular Season to qualify for the next round of FIBA Europe’s second-tier club continental competition. Carrying a 6-7 domestic tally, the Istanbul outfit ranks seventh overall in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Regular Season.
The new team president Begum Yucel recently met Dejan Bodiroga, the president of Euroleague Basketball, in Belgrade. The connection between sharing her plans for the future of the club with Bodiroga and initiating talks with Radonjic is obvious, paving the way for more to come from Bahcesehir Koleji.
The club is part of a private school based in Istanbul. Since earning a spot in the top-tier division of Turkiye in 2018, more club growth led to European competitions. Continental campaigns included reaching the Round of 16 in the 2022-23 edition of the Basketball Champions League and winning the 2021-22 edition of the FIBA Europe Cup.
Radonjic, 53, has coached Panathinaikos, Crvena Zvezda, and FC Bayern Munich in the EuroLeague. The Montenegrin tactician won 89 out of 213 games between the three clubs in Europe’s premier club continental competition from 2013 to 2022. Other jobs stretch from Buducnost VOLI to the senior and junior national teams of Montenegro.