Mike Fratello Negotiating to Coach the Ukrainian National Team
By Rafael Uehara & Tikot de Roa
In an interview to Vladimir Kotsur of sport-express.ua , Alexander Volkov confirmed that the Ukrainian federation of basketball and former Atlanta Hawks head-coach Mike Fratello are in talks that could lead to the TNT analyst coaching the Ukrainian national team at the 2011 Eurobasket which will be held in Lithuania in September.
As mentioned by Kotsur in the interview, the connection between Fratello and Volkov exists through Atlanta, where Volkov played from 1989 to 1992 and Fratello coached from 1983 to 1990. Volkov also mentions on the interview that they are still negotiating and that there are other candidates, which he preferred not to mention.
Fratello was fired by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2006, after the team lost 18 of their first 24 games of the season. He had led the Grizzlies to two playoff appearances in the two previous seasons, getting swept in both. In 16 years coaching in the NBA, with three teams (the Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Grizzlies), Fratello coached his teams to a 667-552 record (a winning percentage of 54.7%).
In the draw that took place last Sunday, January the 30th, it became established that Ukraine is placed on Group D, a group that also features Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Belgium and Slovenia.
In an interview to Vladimir Kotsur of sport-express.ua , Alexander Volkov confirmed that the Ukrainian federation of basketball and former Atlanta Hawks head-coach Mike Fratello are in talks that could lead to the TNT analyst coaching the Ukrainian national team at the 2011 Eurobasket which will be held in Lithuania in September.
As mentioned by Kotsur in the interview, the connection between Fratello and Volkov exists through Atlanta, where Volkov played from 1989 to 1992 and Fratello coached from 1983 to 1990. Volkov also mentions on the interview that they are still negotiating and that there are other candidates, which he preferred not to mention.
Fratello was fired by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2006, after the team lost 18 of their first 24 games of the season. He had led the Grizzlies to two playoff appearances in the two previous seasons, getting swept in both. In 16 years coaching in the NBA, with three teams (the Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Grizzlies), Fratello coached his teams to a 667-552 record (a winning percentage of 54.7%).
In the draw that took place last Sunday, January the 30th, it became established that Ukraine is placed on Group D, a group that also features Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Belgium and Slovenia.
Editor's Note: Information from sport-express.ua was used in this post.
Rafael Uehara is the managing figure of 'The Basketball Post', a regular contributor to The Post's Newsdesk and can be followed on twitter @rafael__uehara or reached via e-mail at rafael.uehara@thebasketballpost.com
Tikot de Roa is the Newsdesk's researcher and can be followed on twitter @TheHoopsMarket
Posted by Newsdesk at 2/4/2011 5:57 PM 
Categories: FIBA:Ukraine
Tags: Ukrainian national team Mike Fratello
Categories: FIBA:Ukraine
Tags: Ukrainian national team Mike Fratello
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