TUR - Ataman to lead Turkish national team

ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Turkey have put Galatasaray coach Ergin Ataman in charge of the national team.

The veteran play-caller's first tournament in charge will be the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, with Turkey taking on the defending champions United States, the Dominican Republic, Ukraine, New Zealand and Finland in Group C.

Turkey finished runners-up as the host nation of the 2010 FIBA World Championship, and despite disappointing displays at the last two EuroBaskets, Ataman says the team has a shot at returning to the podium.

"My goal is to win (a medal) in each one of the major international competitions in the next three years: the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, EuroBasket 2015 and the 2016 Olympics," he said.

Turkey's coaching situation had been in an unsettled state since the end of the last World Championship.

Long-time coach Bogdan Tanjevic relinquished the reins after that tournament, with lead assistant Orhun Ene replacing him at the helm.

The highly-rated Ene, however, wasn't able to steer Turkey into the Quarter-Finals of EuroBasket 2011, a poor finish that cost the team a chance of playing at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Tanjevic agreed to come back and lead the team in qualifying for EuroBasket 2013.

Turkey then reached out to Ettore Messina but never finalized a deal and Tanjevic agreed to coach the team in the Final Round.

Nothing went according to plan last summer, however.

Turkey competed in a tough Group D with Greece, Finland, Italy, Russia and Sweden and failed to get out of the opening round.

Their only victory was an 87-74 triumph over the Swedes.

Ataman has been a terrific coach in his long career and has plenty of experience in European club competitions, having led the likes of Besiktas to EuroChallenge glory.

For the past two years, he has been at the helm of Galatasaray and this year's team is currently in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Top 16.

"Ergin Ataman is one of the most successful coaches in Europe, and I believe that for Turkish basketball this will mark the beginning of a new era of success," said Turkish Basketball Federation President Turgay Demirel.

FIBA