David Blatt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Blatt is a Jewish American citizen who was a former basketball guard in Israel. Today he is one of the most successful Israeli and European basketball coaches in European basketball.
Blatt was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and played basketball at Princeton University from 1977 to 1981. He participated in the Maccabiah Games as part of the USA national team that won a gold medal in 1981.
After competing in the Maccabiah Games, Blatt decided to abandon his american career and began to play basketball in Israel.
[edit] Playing career
- 1977-1981 Princeton University
- 1981-1984 Maccabi Haifa
- 1984-1986 Basketball in the USA.
- 1986-1987 Hapoel Jerusalem
- 1987-1988 Maccabi Natanya
- 1988-1989 Basketball in Elitzor Natanya (also girls' team coach)
- 1989-1990 Basketball in Galil Elyon (also youth team coach)
- 1990-1991 Hapoel Jerusalem
- 1991-1992 Basketball in Ironi Na'ariya (youth club head coach)
- 1992-1993 Maccabi Hederra (was injured and retired)
[edit] Coaching Career
After retiring from basketball he became assistant manager for Hapoel Galil Elyon, coaching them for the 1993/94 season. Next, he became assistant manager at Pini Garshon for the 1994/95 season. In the following year he won the title "Coach of the Year" (1996) and in 1997 he continued coaching at Hapoel Galil Elyon whilst also becoming assistant manager of the Israeli National team.
Blatt returned to coach under Galil Elyon in which he remained assistant manager of the Israeli National team for 2 years in a row (1997-1999).
For the 1999/2000 season he moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv and once again served as assistant manager at Pini Gershon. during this season his team took part in the Israeli Cup (Israeli national championship victory) and also in the Euroleague (Maccabi Tel Aviv, 2nd place).
In the years between 2000-2004 he continued as assistant manger of Pini Gershon in Maccabi Tel Aviv and actively recruited foreign players such as Anthony Parker (in 2000) and Maceo Baston to the team. During those 4 years he won 1 Euroleague title, reached the Euroleague Final Four (2001/2002 season), and reached the final stage of the Edriatian League. Blatte was still working as assister manager of the Israeli National team in 2002 when he won the title of "Coach of the Year" for the second time.
In 2004 he moved to Russia and signed a contract to coach Dynamo St. Petersburg. During this year he won the FIBA Euro cup championship with Dynamo and also the title of "Coach of the Year in Russia" (2004/2005 season).
During the 2005/2006 season he was signed by Pallacanestro Treviso from Italy, and subsequently led them to the Italian Championship through a 3-1 victory in the final series of the Italian playoffs. In the same year he also signed a contract with the Russian National team to became their head coach.
