Aleksandar Nikolić

Aleksandar Nikolić ( _sr. Александар Николић; October 28, 1924 – March 12, 2000) was a renowned basketball player and coach from Yugoslavia. He is considered to be so instrumental and important to the game's development in the country that he is often referred to as the "Father of Yugoslav basketball".

Nikolić was born in Sarajevo, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, but moved to the capital Belgrade at a young age. He studied medicine and law at the University of Belgrade, graduating in 1946.

However, Nikolić had a real passion for basketball. As a player, he competed for Partizan Belgrade (1945-1946), Red Star Belgrade (1947-1949), Železničar Čačak (1949-1950) and BSK Belgrade (1950-1951). He won the Yugoslav league in 1947, 1948 and 1949. Nikolić was a member of the Yugoslav national basketball team during the late 1940s, playing 10 games.

After his playing career was over, he became involved with coaching, both with Serbia-based clubs and those in Italy, notably Pallacanestro Varese. Nikolić was head coach of the Yugoslav national squad between 1951 and 1965, and later between 1977 and 1978. During this time, he coached two future Hall of Famers in Borislav Stanković and Krešimir Ćosić. Under his leadership, Yugoslavia won the 1978 World Championship and 1977 European Championship; silver medals in the 1963 World Championship, 1961 European Championship and 1965 European Championship and bronze medals in the 1963 European Championship.

Aleksandar Nikolić has died on March 12, 2000 in Belgrade.

Nikolić was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.

Clubs Coached

* 1959-1960 KK Partizan
* 1961-1963 OKK Belgrade
* 1965-1967 Petrarca Padova
* 1967-1968 OKK Belgrade
* 1969-1973 Ignis Varese
* 1973-1974 Red Star Belgrade
* 1974-1976 Fortitudo Bologna
* 1978-1980 KK Borac Čačak
* 1981-1982 Virtus Bologna
* 1982-1983 Carrera Venezia
* 1983-1984 Scavolini Pesaro
* 1984-1985 Australian Udine

Titles

* 1963 Yugoslav league, (OKK Belgrade)
* 1962 Yugoslav Cup, (OKK Beograd)
* 1970 European Champions' Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1972 European Champions' Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1973 European Champions' Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1970 Italian league, (Ignis Varese)
* 1972 Italian league, (Ignis Varese)
* 1973 Italian league, (Ignis Varese)
* 1970 Italian Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1971 Italian Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1973 Italian Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1970 Intercontinental Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1973 Intercontinental Cup, (Ignis Varese)
* 1974 Cup Winners' Cup (Red Star Belgrade)

External links

* [http://www.halloffame.fiba.com/pages/eng/hof/indu/p/lid_9046_newsid/18041/coacBio.html FIBA Hall of Fame profile]
* [http://www.mtsmondo.com/sport/vesti/text.php?vest=89793 Sećanje na slavnog Profesora] sr icon
* [http://www.basketpedya.com/Acc002InfJug.php?idjug=5718&idioma=3 Player career]
* [http://www.basketpedya.com/Acc002InfEnt.php?idjug=177&idioma=3 Coach career]