Dimitris Itoudis: 'Coaches are an integral part of how a basketball team operates' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Greek Basketball Federation Credit Greek Basketball Federation

The new head coach of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul Dimitris Itoudis is also a newly assigned Greek national team head coach and the new president of the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board. A lot of new for one of the top coaches in Europe, but in an interview with Eurohoops, he says that he just tries to make things better wherever he goes.

Itoudis succeeded legendary coach Zeljko Obradovic on both, Fenerbahce and also on the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, and when asked about it, he revealed that he never thought about it."I never thought about it like this, but looking at the facts, it's like that. Of course, in Fenerbahce, I am also succeeding Sasa Djordjevic who had a great season by winning the Turkish League title," said Itoudis.

"And also, about Zeljko [Obradovic], for four years in the EHCB, when we all entered uncharted waters, we all had to see how this effort will end up," said the Greek coach.

"We made a lot of steps forward, led by Zeljko, together with [vice-president] Pablo [Laso] and [executive director] Goran [Sasic], who is the driving force of our union," Itoudis explained.

Itoudis revealed what his goals are in the upcoming years in the EHCB."My goal was from day one when we founded the union that we expand our membership to all coaches within the EuroLeague ecosystem but even beyond that," said the Greek coach.

"Apart from all this, the congress, the clinics, and the communication, which are all great, I think we can make the next step and that's the evolution of life," said Itoudis.

"You have to take something and make it better," Itoudis added.Itoudis also explained EuroLeague Head Coaches Board importance."The EBDRC gives us guarantees on our labor contracts but we as coaches understand our roles as being part of showing solidarity," said the new Fenerbahce head coach."Coaches are a very important and integral part of how a basketball team operates. Each coach manages all the personalities in which the teams are investing," said Itoudis.

"So, it's obvious that the coach should be asked about the pre-season conditions, the rules of the game, the size of the court, and the evolution of the game itself," Itoudis continued.

"Coaches, like the players, have unconditional love for the game, so it's good to be part of the conversation," Itoudis explained.

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