Zmago Sagadin

Zmago Sagadin
	Sagadin in 2006
Personal information
Born	1 November 1952 (age 72); Celje, PR Slovenia, FPR Yugoslavia
Nationality	Slovenian
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
Playing career	1974–present
Career history
1974–1981	Libela Celje
1981–1985	Maribor
1985–1994	Smelt Olimpija
1995–1996	KK Split (Croatia Osiguranje)
1996–2002	Union Olimpija
2002–2004	Crvena zvezda
2005–2006	Union Olimpija
2006–2007	Lietuvos rytas
2008	Anwil Włocławek
2009–2010	Zadar
2011–2014	Helios Domžale
2014	MZT Skopje

Zmago Sagadin (/sɑːˈɡɑːdɪn/; born 1 November 1952) is a Slovenian basketball coach. He is widely considered as the most successful Slovenian coach with 25 championship titles both on a national and international level,^[1] recognized 9 times as Slovenian Top Coach of the Year^[2] and recipient of many other honorary awards.

Sagadin is known for his outstanding work with young players, which resulted in 11 of his players to move on to compete in NBA – developing more NBA players than any other coach in Europe – and helped numerous others to achieve the highest European level.

Sagadin last worked as head coach of MZT Skopje in 2014/2015 season, but has been active as a sports commentator, basketball strategy consultant and mentor. From 2011 to 2014, Sagadin was head of staff at KK Helios Domžale, where he formed a center for development of young basketball talents, including Klemen Prepelič, Gregor Hrovat, Blaž Mahkovic and Matic Rebec.

Sagadin is known for his development of players who compete internationally and in NBA.^[3] Success of Union Olimpija Ljubljana (formerly Smelt Olimpija), during his time coaching the team, contributed to establishing basketball as part of Slovenian sport culture and recognition of Union Olimpija as a reputable European club.

Sagadin is also the founder of Slovenia's first national basketball team and co-founder of the Adriatic Basketball League,^[4] author of basketball-related articles,^[5] served eight years as a President of Slovenian Basketball Coaches Association, and lectures for KZS, FIBA and ULEB-organized seminars and clinics.

Career achievements

Club Titles

FIBA European Cup winner: 1 (with Olimpija: 1993–94)
Adriatic League champion: 1 (with Olimpija: 2001–02)
Slovenian League champion: 10 (with Olimpija: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2005–06)
Slovenian Cup winner: 11 (with Olimpija: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2005–06)
Serbia & Montenegro Cup winner: 1 (with Crvena zvezda: 2003–04)

and

Euroleague Final Four – 3rd place with Olimpija: 1996–97

Awards

Slovenian Coach of the Year^[6] – 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02

Players

He developed many great basketball players: Beno Udrih, Primož Brezec, Boštjan Nachbar, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Jiří Welsch, Marko Milič, Vladimir Stepania, Soumaila Samake, Radisav Ćurčić (former NBA), Vladimir Boisa, Sani Bečirovič, Nikola Vujčić, Vlado Ilievski, Gregor Fučka, Jurica Golemac, Ariel McDonald, Marko Tušek, Boris Gorenc, Jasmin Hukić, Ivica Jurković, Gregor Hafner, Klemen Prepelič.

He helped the career of Igor Rakočević, Scoonie Penn, Obinna Ekezie, Mindaugas Žukauskas, Sandro Nicević, Yotam Halperin.

Coaches

Sagadin served as a mentor to many of his former assistant coaches and players who are now head coaches:

Sašo Filipovski (CSKA Moscow, Lottomatica Roma, Turow Zgorzelec, Union Olimpija),
Tomo Mahorič (BC Kyiv, Slask Wrocław, Lietuvos Rytas, Union Olimpija),
Neven Spahija (Tau Ceramica, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Lietuvos rytas),
Aleksandar Trifunović, (Lietuvos rytas, Crvena zvezda),
Zoran Martič (Union Olimpija, Domžale, Slovan, Pivovarna Laško),
Jure Zdovc (Union Olimpija, Bosna, Split, Iraklis, Panionios).

References

^ Eurobasket: Zmago Sagadin Profile, Eurobasket.com, retrieved 2007-12-20.
^ ZKTS Awards Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, kzs-zveza.si, retrieved 2007-12-15.
^ Union Olimpija.com, "Union Olimpija NBA Players," Union Olimpija official web site, 2016
^ ABA, "The Coach – Zmago Sagadin," ABA official web site, 2007
^ Zmago Sagadin, "Defense Is a Constant," Fiba Assist Magazine, 2005
^ "ZKTS Awards" Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, kzs-zveza.si, retrieved 2007-12-15.

External links

[1] Eurobasket: Zmago Sagadin Profile, Eurobasket.com, retrieved 2007-12-20.

[2] ZKTS Awards Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, kzs-zveza.si, retrieved 2007-12-15.

[3] Union Olimpija.com, "Union Olimpija NBA Players," Union Olimpija official web site, 2016

[4] ABA, "The Coach – Zmago Sagadin," ABA official web site, 2007

[5] Zmago Sagadin, "Defense Is a Constant," Fiba Assist Magazine, 2005

[6] "ZKTS Awards" Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, kzs-zveza.si, retrieved 2007-12-15.

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