LOS ANGELES — The Basketball Federation of Armenia announced Carl Bardakian as the new head coach of the soon-to-be established men’s Armenian national basketball team. Armenia will apply to compete in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Europe Division C Men’s Basketball Championship, July 2-7. Upon acceptance by FIBA Europe, Armenia will compete against Scotland, Wales, Malta, Moldova, Andorra, Gibraltar and host country San Marino.
“We will open our first training camp this spring. A strong foundation must be set in order for Armenia to compete internationally in men’s basketball. Carl Bardakian has the coaching background and recruiting experience to assemble the best team to represent Armenia this July,” said Hrachya Rostomyan, president of the Basketball Federation of Armenia.
Bardakian is head coach of the champion Los Angeles men’s basketball team, gold medalists of the fifth Pan Armenian Games in Armenia in 2011. He was twice a gold medal winner with Valley AGBU as a player. Bardakian is the United States representative to the Basketball Federation of Armenia. He has served as an international scout for both the 2010 FIBA Europe Div. C silver medal Armenian women’s national basketball team and the Hatis Yerevan women’s professional basketball team of EuroCup. Bardakian was a student manager at the University of Michigan under Coach Steve Fisher for five years. During that period, Michigan appeared in the NCAA Final Four championship game in 1992 and 1993. Bardakian was also an assistant coach at Cleveland State University and Chaffey College. His numerous coaching responsibilities included recruiting, scouting, game preparation, player workouts and strength and condition.
“A men’s national team will further the growth of basketball in Armenia. This is a key part of our long-term strategic goal of developing basketball throughout the country,” said Souren Zohrabyan, vice president of the Basketball Federation of Armenia.
Bardakian stated “I am honored and grateful for the opportunity the Basketball Federation of Armenia has granted me. President Hrachya Rostomyan and Vice President Souren Zohrabyan have been tremendously supportive. Together, we have entered new groundbreaking territory. Our goal of uniting the best players from Armenia and the diaspora to compete in FIBA Europe is on the verge of becoming a reality. There is no turning back.”
Assistant Coach Zorik Isajani of Glendale College and Assistant Coach Vardan Khatchatrian of Hatis Yerevan and the Armenian women’s national team will serve as assistant coaches.
