RUS - Shake-up in Russia as Sokolovsky takes over women’s team

MOSCOW (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) – Boris Sokolovsky helped Russia capture the silver medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women as an assistant coach.
 
Now the 56-year-old will be the head man and lead them on their quest to capture gold in the Czech Republic after being handed the reins to the national team.
 
In a surprise announcement, Valeri Tikhonenko has stepped down as coach for health reasons with Sokolovsky immediately installed as the new man in charge.
 
The change has happened shortly before the start of the national team’s preparations for the FIBA World Championship for Women.
 
Tikhonenko, 45, took over after the 2008 Olympics and guided Russia into the EuroBasket Women 2009 Final in Riga, Latvia, but France upset the defending champions to win the gold medal.
 
Sokolovsky was supposed to coach Russia at the U20 European Championship for Women this summer.
 
He served as an assistant coach to Igor Grudin in Brazil when Russia shocked the United States in the Semi-Finals, at the EuroBasket Women in Italy the following year and in Beijing.
 
Sokolovsky is the club coach of Dynamo Novosibirsk.
 
Making the federation’s decision even easier was that the fact that last year, Sokolovsky was presented the Golden Basket award as recognition for being the best Russian coach that works with women’s teams.
 
At the FIBA World Championship for Women, Russia will take on Japan, Argentina and the Czech Republic, who are hosting the event, in Group D.
 
FIBA