Ivan Deniz to take over Head Coach duties for Mexico

MEXICO CITY (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) – The Mexican National Basketball Federation (ADEMEBA) announced Ivan Deniz will become the new Head Coach of the Mexican National Team.

Deniz who led the Soles the Mexicali to the title of the 2018 Mexican National League, will be the new coach of the “12 Guerreros”.

Sergio Valdeolmillos had been the head coach, although his assistant Ramon Diaz held the reins in the first two wins of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Valdeolmillos had a lot of success at the helm of Mexico

Valdeolmillos took the Mexican National Team to unprecedented highs, including a FIBA AmeriCup 2013 title, a Round of 16 appearance at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, a gold medal in the Centrobasket 2014 and Round of 16 appearance that same year at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Valdeolmillos led Mexico to third place at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017.

His assistant, Ramon Diaz, held the reins in the first couple of windows of World Cup Qualifiers.

Deniz's first challenge as Mexico coach will be the third window of the Americas Qualifiers. Mexico are third in Group C with a 2-2 record.

Diaz called the shots for Mexico in the first two windows

In the June-July window, Deniz's team will host the unbeaten USA in Mexico City. USA dominated the Mexicans in a 91-55 win during the first window of the Americas Qualifiers.

Deniz and company will then travel to San Juan to take on Puerto Rico. The Boricuas won the first meeting in Monterrey, 100-80, in February.

FIBA