HAGEN (National Team) - Former NBA star Detlef Schrempf has turned down an offer to serve as assistant to Germany coach Dirk Bauermann, citing concerns about the amount of time he would spend away from his family.
 
Bauermann offered former Germany forward Schrempf the spot as co-assistant after Christian Welp agreed to step down from the position due to personal reasons.
 
Schrempf, who played in two Olympics during his 10-year national team career, is serving as an assistant coach with the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA.
 
And he would find it difficult to take off too much time in the summer.
 
"He turned it down because he's already away from home for four months. He didn't want to be away from the family for another six weeks in the summer and be an absent father. He also has an Adidas camp in Asia and there is a time conflict there as well," Bauermann told PA Sport.
 
"He was flattered and honoured. And said he would love to do it. But the schedule makes it nearly impossible and it's completely understandable."
 
Bauermann added: "He said he wants to help Germany in the future though he doesn't know when or how. But he wants to join the staff some time."
 
Welp, who helped Germany to the European Championship in 1993, decided to step down as Germany assistant after three years with the team.
 
Bauermann said Welp's full-time duties as co-owner of a company that sells building materials was taking up too much of his time.
 
Bauermann claimed Welp nearly lost his job two years ago and said it was difficult for the former center to get an extended period of time off last summer for the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
 
"He became too removed from European action, how the game is developing here and getting to know the players," Bauermann added.
 
"We were hoping he would come to Europe once or twice a year to watch our players live - going to Italy and Turkey. I see the guys on tape, but it's better to watch them live."
 
Bauermann and Welp discussed the situation and came to a decision last December.
 
"He has to make a living. And it was too much of a time commitment."
 
Former Germany international star and Telekom Baskets Bonn head coach Michael Koch also turned down Bauermann's offer, stating he wanted to stay in Germany for the pre-season of the German BBL.
 
"He just didn't want to be away for an extended period of time during the pre-season. He just thought it's not the right thing to do. He's a first-year coach now. And he just said he wanted to focus on his club," said Bauermann.
 
Bauermann confirmed that he still has three candidates for the position, including former Germany captain Hansi Gnad - an assistant coach at Bayer Giants Leverkusen who captained Germany's 1993 European title-winners.
 
"Hansi would be a great possibility. He's one of our basketball heroes in this country - more than almost anybody else. He's developed tremendously as a coach in Leverkusen. He has a lot of experience and knows basketball inside and out," Bauermann said.
 
The other two candidates are head coaches in the German BBL - though Bauermann refused to disclose their names.
Bauermann said he'd like to name his second assistant - along with Achim Kuczmann - by the middle of next week.
 
Germany will play against the Czech Republic, Turkey and Lithuania in Group C of the 2007 EuroBasket.
 
David Hein
FIBA