GER - Coaching staff for next Olympic cycle determined

BERLIN (National team) - Bauermann coaches Reserve Team, Rödl takes over U20 - Steven Clauss new Director of Sports

The Federation's Head Coach Dirk Bauermann determined his Coaching Staff for the next Olympic Cycle until 2012 for Men's Basketball. Bauermann's new Coaching Staff includes a returning National Team player and several shifts.

The changes had to be made due to the League's Head Coach Regulation due to which the League's Head Coaches are not allowed to coach a National Team.

Dirk Bauermann will coach the Men's Reserve Team ("A2"-National Team) - at least until 2009. "In this team, four to six players will be the core for the new A-National Team on a short and midterm basis. In addition, there is no overlap with the program of the A-National Team as the Universiade in Belgrade will take place from July 1st to 12th, 2009.

After that two weeks remain until the A-program starts", Bauermann explains.

Henrik Rödl is the new Head Coach of the U20 National Team. The former National Team player takes over the Coaching Job from Emir Mutapcic who was not able to continue his work as Head Coach for the German Basketball Federation due to the League's regulation. Mutapcic works as Head Coach at the League club in Braunschweig.

"We owe Mucki a lot! He has done a phantastic job over the past three years putting huge effort into leading the U20 back into A-division. In Henrik we found an ideal successor, combining the experience as a First League Coach with having successfully worked in Youth Basketball. I am very happy that we have the former Captain of the National Team back on board!", Bauermann comments Rödl's return to the German Basketball Federation.

The U18-National Team stays with Head Coach Kay Blümel. „Kay's experience and identification is an essential part of our program. His U18 Team did a great job and I completely trust in his work", Bauermann underlines.

Former A2 Head Coach Frank Menz is now Head Coach for the U16 National Team and simultaneously Head Coach of the project "Application for the FIBA U17 World Championship",

"This age-group and the joint application for the FIBA U17 World Championship is of high interest in German Basketball. Therefore, we agreed on such a high potential for this coaching position. We need a full-time coach here and Frank has proven to work excellent with young players in Weißenfels und Jena", Bauermann concludes in presenting his new Coaching Team.

Concerning the Assistant Coaches, changes had to be made due to the League's Regulation as well. Achim Kuczmann and Hansi Gnad have to drop out being Coaches in Leverkusen. Dirk Bauermann will work with Volker Stix (Bamberg) and Frank Menz as Assistant Coaches.

In addition to the Coaching Staff decisions, the German Basketball Federation completed their search for a new Sports Director. Steven Clauss takes over the job from Wolfgang Brenscheidt who has been promoted to General Secretary of the Federation in July.

German Basketball Federation