Director General for BC Khimki, Víctor BYCHKOV:

— Having worked hard for the club, these specialists are well known to the Moscow Region fans: Bergman, as assistant coach; and Vadeev and Soloviev as players, captains, and later as coaches. There is team spirit, and the boys have had their evening training and are ready to go out in the morning to battle as warriors in the upcoming championship game.

Russell “Rusty” BERGMAN, born 13 September, 1947 in Reimen, Illinois, had his major basketball training when playing for Louisiana State University — know for its excllent teams — with the likes of later-NBA legend and Hall of Famer, “Pistol Pete” Maravich, and along with others such as Bob Petit and Shaquille O’Neal — considered among the top 50 players in NBA history. Rusty is an Illinois Hall of Famer.

After college, he was signed on professionally with the Illinois’ Decatur Bullets of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) -second only to the NBA in power leagues.

Rusty received his M.S. Ed from Eastern Illinois University in 1971, and went on to serve as an officer in the US Army, keeping him away from b-ball for one year, but earning him the rank of Captain.

He later served as head coach for Coastal Carolina University during 19 years, reaching the NCAA and clinching the Big South Conference Championship seven times, and was awarded Best Coach of the Year four times. He also served as head coach for the CBA Oklahoma City Calvary for five years, and was a scout for the NBA Utah Jazz for four years.

Rusty’s real calling pulled him back to coaching and he returned to the CBA. He took the Great Lakes Storm to victory in the regular season championships but lost against the Rockford Lightening: 2-3. Bergman directed the Western Conference in the 2005 CBA All-Star Games and was recognized as Coach of the Year.

Between the US and his arrival to the Moscow Region, he coached the Big South all-star team in a tournament in Samara, Russia in 1993.

Bergman ranks high as a coach for the CBA, and is 14 in victory percentiles: 53.7 (161-137), 14 for playoff victories (19 for the CBA eliminatory games that begin with the semifinals up until three victories), and 13 in victory percentiles in the playoffs with 51.5. Bergman has also worked in clinics with individual players.

Well aware of the skills of this dedicated coach, the San Antonio Spurs’ own Gregg Popovich recommended him to Khimki.

Russell is married and has two daughters. Basketball ranks third in his personal life after his family and his faith.