Phoenix Suns New Head Coach Is Utah Assistant Igor Kokoskov

PHOENIX, AZ – The Phoenix Suns have a new head coach. The team announced Wednesday that Igor Kokoskov will be the 19th head coach in franchise history.

"We are thrilled to bring Valley resident Igor Kokoškov back to Arizona as head coach of the Phoenix Suns," General Manager Ryan McDonough said.

"Igor has been a pioneer throughout his basketball career and he brings a wealth of high level coaching experience to our club. "

Kokoskov, who was born in Serbia, is the first head coach who was born and raised outside of North America. (Get Phoenix Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

The move means a bit of a homecoming for Kokoskov. He was an assistant coach with the team from 2008-2013.

He has been with the Utah Jazz for the past two years.

Kokoskov started his NBA career as an asssistant with the LA Clippers in 2000 and has also coached with the Pistons, Cavaliers, and Magic.

In 2010, while he was coaching with the Suns, he became an American citizen at the Suns's arena. he and his family have kept a home in the Valley ever since.

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Photo via Suns/NBA.