The Turkish Basketball Federation have announced Ergin Ataman as head coach of the national team with an official presentation taking place on Saturday.
Ataman starts a second spell in charge having previously been the head coach from 2014-16 and takes over from Orhun Ene, who had held the position since November 2020.
“I AM AN AMBITIOUS PERSON. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS TO THE TURKISH PEOPLE AND THE STAFF TODAY: WE ARE HERE TO WIN MEDALS.”
The first task for Ataman will be to prepare the team for the next window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers this summer before full focus will turn to FIBA EuroBasket 2022 in September.
“Once again, I am excited to be a part of the national team. The process developed quickly. Your trust is important to me. I would like to thank the Turkish Basketball Federation management, TBF President Hidayet Turkoglu, our Minister of Sports for supporting us, and our President, who closely followed the process, gave us all kinds of support and wanted our national team to be the pride of the Turkish people.
“For me, the players should take their place with the same enthusiasm that will lead the national team to the goal of medals where it deserves. I am an ambitious person. I would like to say this to the Turkish people and the staff both today and at the first meeting: we are here to receive medals. I invite everyone to this staff with this responsibility and enthusiasm.”
Ataman led Turkey to victories over Italy and Germany at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 before their eventual loss in the Round of 16 with their only medal at the major tournament coming on home soil in 2001 – 21 years ago.
TBF president Hidayet Turkoglu added, “We want to have a chance to get a medal at the European Championship in September with the strong team we will form. In this critical process, we decided to make an agreement with a new head coach who will carry us to the point we aim for.
“We invited Ergin Ataman to lead our men’s national team, which he had previously coached, and he is joining us again with his ambition goals. We trust him and our team give full support. I wish our agreement will bring good results and great success for Turkish basketball.”
Ataman has won multiple domestic titles as a coach as well as several different European competitions with the 56-year-old set to continue to lead reigning EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes.
Turkey head to Tbilisi, Georgia for the group phase of EuroBasket later this year as they take on the hosts alongside Spain, Russia, Belgium and Bulgaria from September 1-7, 2022.
Source: FIBA