By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Spanish national team head coach Sergio Scariolo will join the Toronto Raptors with the role of an assistant coach. This will be Scariolo’s first full-time coaching job in the NBA.
Per David Camps of Spanish radio Onda Cero, Scariolo has already informed the Spanish Federation of his decision. The Italian coach is expected to meet with Spanish Federation president (and a former Toronto Raptors player by the way) Jorge Garbajosa in the following days to discuss the termination of his contract with the FEB ahead of the Second Round of the World Cup Qualifiers that begins on September.
The Raptors were looking to hire a European coach to add to the staff as an assistant. After Zalgiris Kaunas head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius decline an offer to remain in Europe, former Brose Bamberg and Greek national team head coach Andrea Trinchieri was also considered. Toronto ultimately recruited Scariolo
Scariolo had been the coach of the Spanish national team in nearly every summer tournament since 2009 with the exception of the 2013 EuroBasket and the 2014 World Cup. He led the “Rojas” to three EuroBasket gold medals (2009, 2013, 2015), the silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games plus bronze medals in the 20016 Olympic Games and the 2017 EuroBasket.