Zvi Sherf

Zvi Sherf ( _he. צבי שרף, born December 18, 1951, Tel Aviv, Israel), known almost universally by his nickname Zvika ( _he. צביקה), is an Israeli basketball coach and former player. He is currently the coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Israeli national basketball team.

Sherf played for the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, starting at age 12. By age 16, Sherf was playing for Maccabi South Tel Aviv (the club's second side), and was sent to a coaching course, along with fellow future basketball coach Pini Gershon. By age 20, Sherf was coaching the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, and by age 25 was coaching Maccabi South Tel Aviv, leading it to his first championship.

In the 1980/81 season -- where Maccabi Tel Aviv won the European Championship, the Israeli League and the Israeli State Cup -- Sherf was an assistant coach to Rudi d'Amico. Sherf became Maccabi Tel Aviv's head coach in 1983/84, staying through to the 1985/86 season (inclusive). In 1984 (at the age of 33), he became the Israeli national basketball team coach. His first national coaching tenure (which lasted three years) saw two Eurobasket appearances (1985, 1987) and Israel's historic 7th placing at the 1986 FIBA World Basketball Championship. Sherf's tenure as national coach ended after what was perceived as a poor performance at EuroBasket 1987 (11th position), but Sherf later returned as coach for the years 1991-97. In 2005, Sherf was again appointed coach of the Israeli national basketball team, and on January 1, 2008, was appointed head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Sherf's coaching career includes a Saporta Cup victory with Aris BC Thessaloniki (1992/93), and two Euroleague finals, 10 Israeli League Championships and six Israeli State Cups (all with Maccabi Tel Aviv).

Coaching History

European Titles

* 1 Saporta Cup title (1992/93, with Aris BC Thessaloniki);

* 3 European Championship finals (1986/87, 1988/89, 2007/08 with Maccabi Tel Aviv);

* 1 European Championship third-place (1990/91, with Maccabi Tel Aviv).

Israeli Titles

* 10 Israeli Basketball Superleague titles (1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, all with Maccabi Tel Aviv);

* 6 Israeli Basketball State Cup championships (1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, all with Maccabi Tel Aviv).

References

* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/coaches/showcoach?clubcode=tel&pcode=WAM Euroleague profile]
* [http://www.tzahevet.co.il/news-open.asp?IDNews=3577 Tzahevet profile] he icon
* [http://www.24sec.net/article.asp?index=2080 Zvi Sherf is the new Israeli NT Coach]