Philipp Höhne has a lot to explain at the moment. This is due to a rumor that is causing quite a stir in the basketball scene here and is actually quite something: Will Anton Gavel be the new coach of the currently stumbling former series champion Bamberg Baskets? Gavel is a whiz kid in the German coaching sky; the former national player celebrated his first position as head coach at Ratiopharm Ulm by winning the championship.
Höhne, the Bamberg managing director, is now practiced at fending off questions about the new coach, given the attention that such a personality attracts in the middle of a season. It sounds like this: “We will end the season with Arne Woltmann as head coach. We will not comment on whether there is a new coach at the moment.” This is how the game works, especially since further changes are to be expected as a result.
According to SZ information, the deal has long been over and will be officially confirmed in the coming days. Gavel will return to his second home; the German-Slovakian from Kosice still has many connections to Bamberg. His wife comes from the Upper Franconian city, and the Gavels still have a house in Bamberg. As sound as this change seems emotionally, it is questionable from a sporting perspective. In Ulm, Gavel made himself immortal with the first championship title for the Swabians, especially since the 39-year-old knocked out much more potent competitors such as the two Euroleague teams Alba Berlin and Bayern Munich as well as Champions League winner Telekom Baskets Bonn from the title fight in that order . He has a functioning environment, is adored by the fans, and the Ulm team are also convincing in the current season, even though they once again had to let their best players move from abroad due to significantly better offers.
Because in Ulm there are clear guidelines: no crazy salaries, down-to-earth Swabian calculations, good scouting and solid management. This also applies to the trainer. Ulm offers trust and an internationally respected platform on which lesser-known players or novice coaches can prove themselves. The team currently narrowly failed in the Eurocup round of 16 against Spanish representatives Badalona, but the second highest European competition is a valuable showcase for aspiring professionals and talents. Either way, the focus is on the income from the own basketball academy – and the brand new Orange campus needs to be financed first. According to reports, this approach could no longer be easily reconciled with the demands of the master trainer; Gavel probably felt that he was not valued enough. It can also be heard that the Swabians were in no hurry to extend their contract.
The change from the Swabian oasis of well-being to the stumbling giant involves a great risk
And Bamberg was there: Gavel probably won’t earn significantly more with the Baskets, but he will receive a long-term contract. And he will be welcomed in Freak City as a new savior, because the former series champion craves nothing more than continuity. Not only are the great times long gone, there has been a noticeable lack of sporting expertise since sports director Daniele Baiesi left for FC Bayern in 2017. Since then, all efforts by various sports directors and coaches to build on the old successes have always failed – the most recent example being the dismissal of coach Oren Amiel five weeks ago. Since then, assistant coach Arne Woltmann has led the team with considerable success. After the victory in Ludwigsburg, even the playoffs are an issue again, but dominance in Franconian basketball has been lost to Würzburg.
Gavel will take the lead in putting together the squad together with Woltmann and Stefan Weissenböck, who is responsible for player development. A master trainer with the smell of a stable and a reputation as a talent developer is very welcome. Ulm, on the other hand, has an opinionated duo with a lot of expertise in sports director Thorsten Leibenath, who developed Ulm into a consistent Bundesliga great as a coach, and managing director Thomas Stoll. But Gavel has a special instinct for leading and shaping a collective, he has the knack of making players better. All of this was missing in Bamberg recently, especially since the financially rosy times are over after the significant reduction in support from the Brose Group. Gavel comes home with a lot of credit, he had his most successful times in Bamberg, celebrating four championships and three cup victories there.
And he was a crowd favorite in Freak City, which had a lot to do with his image of the honest and hard worker, which makes him a perfect fit for Bamberg at the moment. After steadily falling spectator numbers, which reached a low of under 4,000 last season, the Bamberg fans have rediscovered their joy in the team. The combative and more attractive style of play is honored; an average of 5,000 fans currently attend home games. A development that the new head coach will certainly encourage.
Emotionally it is a return to the family fold for Gavel, but in terms of sport it is a risk to swap the Swabian comfort zone with the erratic business of the stumbling giant. But it also offers the chance to take the next step in his rapid coaching career: If he successfully ventilates Bamberg, it will open bigger doors for him.
2024-03-15 15:08:06
#Coach #Anton #Gavel #moving #Ratiopharm #Ulm #Bamberg #Baskets #Sports
