BRUSSELS (Belgium) - French playcaller Valery Demory has been given the task of writing another exciting chapter for Belgium and securing their continued rise to prominence at both the continental level and on the global stage.

The 58-year-old, who hails from just over the border in Denain, will take up his position as head coach alongside his duties with EuroLeague Women side, BLMA. 

While this will be his first major role in the international game, he brings an impressive record in club basketball as a two-time Coach of the Year in his homeland, having landed three LFB Championships and four French Cup titles in the past decade. He also does have vast experience as a player on the international stage with 121 caps for his country.

"Valery Demory is a warm personality, with extensive experience and palmares at the highest level," stated General Manager of the Cats, Koen Umans.

"He is burning with ambition to lead the Belgian Cats, together with the entire staff, to even stronger performances and prizes."

Demory will lead Belgium at next year's FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments,  but his first task will be to guide his team through the first FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2022 Qualifying window next month, playing in a group with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany and North Macedonia.

He also has a challenge to build on the magnificent legacy of former head coach Philip Mestdagh, who put Belgian basketball on the map. He took them to a first-ever FIBA Women's EuroBasket podium finish when they took bronze in 2017, a maiden FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup appearance in 2018, another FIBA Women's EuroBasket bronze medal earlier this year and a first-ever Olympic outing too.  

FIBA