Alexander Gomelsky
Encyclopedia
Alexander Yakovlevich Gomelsky (January 18, 1928 in Kronstadt
, USSR – August 16, 2005 in Moscow
, Russia
) was a great Soviet
and Russia
n basketball
coach
.
Gomelsky was Jewish.http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Sport/Jews_in_Sport_in_the_USSR He began his coaching career in 1948 in Leningrad
with LGS Spartak. In 1953 he became the coach of ASK Riga
, an army
club, leading the team to five Soviet league titles and three consecutive European Cups
from 1958 to 1960.
In 1969 he was appointed coach of CSKA Moscow
until 1980, leading the club to 9 Soviet Union national league championships (1970–1974, 1976–1979), 2 Soviet union national cups (1972–1973) and on European Champions cup
title in 1971, leading the club to two more European cup finals in 1970 and 1973.
Gomelsky coached the Soviet Union national team
for almost 30 years, leading them to 6 European Championships
titles (1963
, 1965
, 1967
, 1969
, 1979
, and 1981
), 2 World Championships
title (1967
and 1982
) and the Olympic
gold medal in 1988
.
He was the Soviet national team coach in 1972, and was expected to coach the team at the 1972 Summer Olympics
, but the KGB
confiscated his passport
fearing that, since Gomelsky was Jewish, that he would defect
to Israel
. The Soviet team, with Vladimir Kondrashin
as coach, won their first Olympic gold medal that year, on a controversial call against the United States
team.
In his later years, he was president of the CSKA Moscow. He also coached in Spain
, France
and the United States. In 1995 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame
. The Euroleague
annual coach of the year award is named after him, as well as CSKA Universal Sports Hall
.
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
, USSR – August 16, 2005 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) was a great Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Gomelsky was Jewish.http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Sport/Jews_in_Sport_in_the_USSR He began his coaching career in 1948 in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
with LGS Spartak. In 1953 he became the coach of ASK Riga
ASK Riga
ASK Rīga is the name of a former professional basketball club based in Riga, Latvia. "ASK" stands for "Armijas Sporta Klubs" .-History:...
, an army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
club, leading the team to five Soviet league titles and three consecutive European Cups
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
from 1958 to 1960.
In 1969 he was appointed coach of CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow
PBC CSKA Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Moscow, Russia. The club is a member of the VTB United League. It is often referred to in the West as "Red Army" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army. CSKA has won two titles between 2006 and 2009 in Europe's...
until 1980, leading the club to 9 Soviet Union national league championships (1970–1974, 1976–1979), 2 Soviet union national cups (1972–1973) and on European Champions cup
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
title in 1971, leading the club to two more European cup finals in 1970 and 1973.
Gomelsky coached the Soviet Union national team
Soviet Union national basketball team
The Soviet national basketball team was the basketball side that represented the Soviet Union in international competitions. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the successor countries all set up their own national teams...
for almost 30 years, leading them to 6 European Championships
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
titles (1963
EuroBasket 1963
The 1963 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1963, was the 13th regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Seventeen national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition...
, 1965
EuroBasket 1965
-Venues:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # First roundGroup A - MoscowGroup B - Tbilisi-Places 13 - 16:-Places 9 - 12:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Team rosters:...
, 1967
EuroBasket 1967
-Venues:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # First roundGroup A - HelsinkiGroup B - Tampere-Places 13 - 16 in Tampere:-Places 9 - 12 in Helsinki:-Places 5 - 8 in Tampere:...
, 1969
EuroBasket 1969
-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Group A - Caserta:-Group B - Naples:-Places 9 - 12 in Naples:-Places 5 - 8 in Naples:-Places 1 - 4 in Naples:-Finals - all games in Naples:-Team rosters:...
, 1979
EuroBasket 1979
The 1979 European Basketball Championship, and in short Eurobasket 1979, was the 21st regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Twelve national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition. The competition was hosted by Italy...
, and 1981
EuroBasket 1981
The 1981 FIBA European Basketball Championship, commonly called EuroBasket 1981, was the 22nd regional championship held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Czechoslovakia and took place from May 26 to June 5, 1981...
), 2 World Championships
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
title (1967
1967 FIBA World Championship
The 1967 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Montevideo, Uruguay from May 27 to June 11, 1967.-Venues:- Competing nations :- Preliminary round :-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Classification round:...
and 1982
1982 FIBA World Championship
The 1982 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Colombia from August 15 to 28 , 1982.-Venues:- Competing nations :- Preliminary round :-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Classification round:-Final round:...
) and the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal in 1988
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at the Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea. The United States won the gold medal in the women's competition, thus repeating their performance from the 1984 tournament. In the men's tournament, the Soviet Union took home their second gold medal in...
.
He was the Soviet national team coach in 1972, and was expected to coach the team at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, but the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
confiscated his passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
fearing that, since Gomelsky was Jewish, that he would defect
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The Soviet team, with Vladimir Kondrashin
Vladimir Kondrashin
Vladimir Petrovich Kondrashin was a Russian basketball coach....
as coach, won their first Olympic gold medal that year, on a controversial call against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
team.
In his later years, he was president of the CSKA Moscow. He also coached in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United States. In 1995 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame honors basketball players, coaches and administrators who have contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA in 1991. It includes the "Samaranch Library", the biggest basketball library in the world that, as of 2007, has over 10,000 basketball...
. The Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
annual coach of the year award is named after him, as well as CSKA Universal Sports Hall
CSKA Universal Sports Hall
Alexander Gomelsky CSKA Universal Sports Hall, formerly known as CSKA Palace of Sports, is an indoor sporting arena located in Moscow, Russia...
.
See also
- List of select Jewish coaches