Kokoškov will sign a one-year contract, which could be extended if he manages to get Slovenia to the EuroBasket in 2017.

Kokoškov is currently an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously managed the Georgian national basketball team.

The 49-year-old Zdovc was serving his second term at the helm of the national team, with his best result with Slovenia being the fourth place at the European championship in 2009 in Poland.

Kokoškov, who will present himself to the Slovenian public in mid-February during the All-Star break in the NBA, will be the second foreign coach at the helm of the national basketball team after Serbia's Božidar Maljković (2011-2013).

The new coach said in a recorded statement that he was honoured to be appointed to the post, for which he is "very motivated." Kokoškov hoped that his know-how and experience would help achieve the first goal of making it to the EuroBasket next year.

KZS president Matej Erjavec explained that Zdovc had been replaced as his club, AEK Athens, had insisted that Zdovc dedicated himself solely to the club.

Erjavec added that Kokoškov had been hired to help develop the national team by making the roster younger, which the new head coach himself confirmed as one of the main goals, noting that "Slovenia has realistically a lot of young talent."