GER - Menz takes reins, succeeds Pesic

FRANKFURT (EuroBasket 2013) - Frank Menz received the reins to Germany’s youth movement in taking over as senior national team coach, succeeding Svetislav Pesic as the new man in charge.

“I am very happy about the trust that was given me. I know that the job as men’s national team coach is not an easy one. But I cannot wait to start it and want to make the most of it,” said the 48-year-old Berlin native at the press conference to announce his appointment Thursday in Frankfurt.

Menz has been a full-time coach for the German Basketball Federation (DBB) since 2006. He made headlines mainly the past two summers, guiding Germany to fifth-place finishes at the 2011 and 2012 U20 European Championships - the country’s best showings in that age category.

This past summer also saw him serve as one of Pesic’s assistant coaches as Germany went undefeated 8-0 in their 2013 EuroBasket qualifier to book a spot in Slovenia.

“Frank Menz has developed in an excellent manner with the DBB and proven that he is best prepared for such a demanding assignment,” said DBB President Ingo Weiss.

“It was clear to us that Frank Menz would be the next national team coach. We are staying loyal to our concept. He is the right man for this job, which will not be easy. But we have full faith in him.”

The first move for Menz will be to reach out to his players.

“I will get in touch with the players soon. I know them all very well. And the next days and weeks will be spent fitting together a program for the summer to be well prepared for the start of the European Championship,” said Menz, whose team will face France, Belgium, Ukraine, Great Britain and Israel in Group A of the Preliminary Round in Slovenia.

Menz was a serious candidate to get the job before the summer when the DBB decided instead to hire Pesic. The veteran coach was signed only for the qualifying campaign for the EuroBasket and two weeks ago became the head coach of German emerging power Bayern Munich.

There was speculation that former Germany national team coach Dirk Bauermann would be a candidate to return to the helm. But the DBB chose Menz, who was Bauermann’s assistant at EuroBasket 2009.

Menz also was head coach of Germany’s U16 team at the 2009 European Championship, the U17 team at the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship and the national side at the 2010 Albert Schweitzer Tournament.

All that means he knows the young German team quite well.

Germany’s extended 24-man roster for the 2013 EuroBasket qualifiers had an average age of 23.1 years, including Jan Jagla (31 years old), Yassin Idbihi (29) and Heiko Schaffartzik (28) as well as 10 players 22 years or younger and four more who are 23 years of age.

Menz is to decide on his coaching staff in coming months.

FIBA