Posted: Dec. 19, 2011
Phoenix Suns Assistant Coach Igor Kokoskov will be presented with one of the highest civilian awards of the Republic of Georgia, the Order of Honour, for his work as the head coach of Georgia’s national team
President Mikheil Saakashvili will present the honor personally to Kokoskov in a ceremony in Tbilisi, Georgia. Kokoskov will depart today, Fri., Dec. 16, and return in time for the Suns’ first preseason game on Dec. 20 in Denver against the Nuggets.
A native of Serbia, Kokoskova has served as the head coach of the Republic of Georgia National Team since 2008, leading the team deeper into European tournament play each year, including a top-12 finish in EuroBasket 2011, an Olympic qualifying tournament this past summer.
Kokoskov joined the Suns coaching staff in 2008, and overall owns 11 years of NBA coaching experience. He became the first full-time, non-American assistant coach in NBA history in 2000, when he joined the staff of then-Los Angeles Clippers Head Coach Alvin Gentry, now the Suns’ head coach since 2009.