ESP/ITA – Spain’s Scariolo to coach Armani Jeans Milano

MADRID (EuroBasket 2011/Lega A) - Spain national team boss Sergio Scariolo is wearing two hats again after being confirmed as the new coach of Armani Jeans Milano.

The Italian will lead Spain for the third successive summer as they try to bounce back from last year's Quarter-Final exit at the FIBA World Championship and reach the title game of the EuroBasket in Lithuania.

To do so would qualify the Spaniards for the London Olympics.

He will then return to his native country and pick up the reins of Olimpia Milano, who were just beaten in the last four of the Lega A play-offs by Bennet Cantu.

Scariolo will replace Dan Peterson at the helm.

The appointment has been welcomed by Spanish Basketball Federation president Jose Luis Saez.

"Sergio's incorporation to a big team of Europe goes to show that we have a national team with one of the masters of the continental coaching," Saez said.

"His dedication and work with Spain is not going to decrease at all, just as it was proof when he coached Khimki last season."

Russian outfit BC Khimki parted with Scariolo earlier this year when they failed to advance to the Top 16 of the Euroleague.

Confirmation of Scariolo's appointment, meanwhile, was issued in a statement by Milano.

It said: "Pallacanestro Olimpia Armani Jeans Milano announces it has handed the coaching reins to Sergio Scariolo.

"This agreement has been done with the blessing of the Spanish federation. The new coach will be unveiled on June 9."

Milano began the season with Piero Bucchi at the helm but removed him at the start of January and replaced him with 75-year-old Peterson.

FIBA