MOSCOW (Euroleague) - Evgeny Pashutin has been pulling all the right strings as the coach of Lokomotiv Kuban on their debut appearance in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

Now the former point guard is going to have a chance to call the plays for Russia too.

The country's basketball federation, almost three months after the team's early exit from EuroBasket 2013, has put the 44-year-old in charge of the national team.

Pashutin has become the third coach of the squad since the end of the 2012 London Olympics, when long-time boss David Blatt decide not to continue at the helm after leading the side to a second straight bronze medal.

Blatt had coached Russia to gold at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain and bronze at EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania.

In December 2012, Russia announced the appointment of Fotis Katsikaris as boss but a shake-up in the federation which included the departure of president Aleksander Krasnenkov led to uncertainty in the coaching situation.

Katsikaris decided to go just several weeks before the start of this year's EuroBasket without leading a training session.

Vasily Karasev, fresh off leading Russia to the Universiade (World University Games) title in Kazan, took the reins.

But with the senior side moving into a new era following the retirement from international basketball of superstar Andrei Kirileko, the team had a nightmare performance in Slovenia.

At the 24-team EuroBasket, the Russians finished joint-last with Israel, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) and Poland, thus failing to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Pashutin, who played for Russia at the 1994 and 2002 FIBA World Championships, the 2000 Olympics and four EuroBaskets (1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001), has already distinguished himself as a fine coach.

Since working under Italian great Ettore Messina at CSKA Moscow, Pashutin has worked at Spartak St Petersburg, CSKA, Unics Kazan and now Lokomotiv Kuban.

While in charge of CSKA, he guided the team to the Euroleague Final Four and he won Eurocups with Unics (2010-11) and Lokomotiv Kuban (2012-13).

This season, Lokomotiv have been sensational in their first Euroleague campaign, winning six of seven games to lead Group D.

"I know that on me now lies a huge responsibility," he said.

"In the history of our basketball are many glorious pages.

"The team is not experiencing the best of times.

"Our shared aim - to restore the prestige of the national team."

Pashutin says he owes a debt of gratitude to Lokomotiv Kuban.

"I would like to warmly thank the President of 'Loko', Andrey Vedishev," he said.

"Of course, he realizes that the combination of the head coach of two posts is not the best situation for the club. But he is a true patriot.

"Russia's interests more important to him than personal ambitions."

Russia are among the 15 candidates that applied for the four wild cards on offer to complete the 24-team field at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA