FRA - Veyronnet quits France, Nelhomme fills vacancy

PARIS (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Ruddy Nelhomme has been appointed as an assistant coach for France following Michel Veyronnet’s departure from the post.
 
Veyronnet is the head coach of SPO Rouen and had to step away from the national team to fully concentrate on that job following the club's relegation to the Pro B.
 
Nelhomme is the coach of Poitiers Basket 86, a club he steered to an eighth-place finish in the French top flight.
 
That allowed the club to compete in the play-offs.
 
The good season by Nelhomme's team, in fact, kept ninth-place ASVEL - the side coached by France national team boss Vincent Collet - out of the play-offs.
 
"I understand perfectly the situation in which Michel Veyronnet is in and the decision that was taken,” Collet said.
 
"I deeply regret that he has had to withdraw this summer because our collaboration during the last campaign was excellent.
 
"On the other hand, I think Ruddy Nelhomme has had two outstanding seasons with Poitiers and he was chosen this season as Coach of the Year. He could be the perfect assistant.
 
"He has the skills but also human qualities to assist me in the national team. "
 
France's national team director, Patrick Beesley, said: "I want to thank Michel Veyronnet for the excellent work he did with the national team last summer.
 
"I wish Michel every success for next season, with a rapid return to the Pro A for Rouen.
 
"I would also like to express my gratitude to the President of Poitiers Basket 86, Alain Baudier, with whom we have had very positive relations so that we can now incorporate Ruddy Nelhomme into the staff of the France national team.
 
"After a very good year with Poitiers, Ruddy will be the ideal person to assist Vincent Collet in the major competitions to come, starting with the FIBA World Championship in Turkey."
 
FIBA