BRATISLAVA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - The Slovak Republic Basketball Federation (SBA) has decided that Ivan Rudez is the man to steer their national team through the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers and trusted him on Monday with the head coaching role.

The 36-year-old Croatian tactician, who is the older brother of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Damjan Rudez, is tasked with guiding the Slovak Republic to a FIBA EuroBasket for the first time in history.

Milan Černický, who was at the helm of the Slovak Republic national team during the EuroBasket 2015 2nd Qualification Round, will stay on as Rudez's assistant.

"I would like to thank the federation for the trust they have placed in me," Rudez commented after the SBA made the appointment official.

"We have three important goals ahead of us.

"The first is to create a system through which players will improve, that will serve as a stepping stone in their career.

"Secondly, I want to create a good atmosphere around the team, which is the foundation of any success.

"The third objective is identifying and selecting a new generation of leaders, since the national team has lost its previous leader, Anton Gavel.

"I know which players are the potential candidates for this role."

Rudez will be combining his new role with his position as head coach of reigning Swiss champions Lions de Genève.

He took charge of the Geneva club in 2012 and led them to the LNB title the following year and then the league and cup double in 2015.

Rudez had commenced his coaching career in the Slovak Republic, after retiring as a player at the age of 27 due to injury.

He assumed the reins of BC Prievidza and steered them back to the Slovak top flight in 2007 and the first division play-off semi-finals in 2009, before leaving in 2010 to work as an assistant to Aleksandar Petrović at Cedevita Zagreb.

The Draw for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers takes place on Friday.

FIBA