Changes in coaching staff 5 august 2017

BC Khimki coaching staff suffered changes. Next season Christos Pappas, Oleg Meleshchenko and Georgios Bozikas will assist head coach Georgios Bartzokas. Greek specialist Georgios Vavetsis will be responsible for strength and condition preparation of our players.


Greek specialist Christos Pappas (born 29.06.1963) has worked for many years in the coaching staff of Georgios Bartzokas. Last season Pappas helped Bartzokas in the Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona Lasse; earlier they worked in Lokomotiv-Kuban Krasnodar (2015/2016), Olympiacos Piraeus (2012-2015), Panionios (2010/2011) and Olympia Larissa (2007/2008). As Bartzokas, Pappas played basketball at a pro level, but because of serious injury finished his playing career.

Oleg Meleshchenko (born 14.07.1967) played for BC Khimki in 2001/2002 season, and then became a professional coach. Having worked as an assistant coach in Dynamo St. Petersburg, Oleg returned to Khimki on a similar position, after which he got an offer from Lokomotiv-Rostov. From 2008 to 2010, Meleshchenko re-worked in Khimki, where he helped the the Spaniard Sergio Scariolo. When Scariolo was dismissed in December 2010, Meleshchenko was appointed as BC Khimki interim head coach (until March 2011). From 2012 to 2014 Oleg worked in Slovakia, where he coached the clubs Astrum and Inter. The last two seasons, Meleshchenko spent in the Russian Superleague, where he led the Dynamo Chelyabinsk and Temp-SUMZ-UMMC (Revda).

Georgios Bozikas (born 03.06.1976, Greece) began his coaching career in 2010 as an individual coach with young and professional players (Greek National Teams U 16 and U 18). From 2013 to 2015 he worked in Greece as a head coach and assistant (Second League). In 2015/2016 Bozikas helped Bartzokas in the coaching staff of PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban, and earlier in Maroussi, Panionios and Olympiacos. Before becoming a coach, Bozikas professionally played basketball (Ionikos, Panellinios, Doukas and Peristeri). He twice participated in three-point contest of the the Greek All Star Games (2002, 2004). Graduate of College of Sciences, Athens (physical education, bachelor's degree); he also participated in the Greek Basketball Coaches Association Program in the USA (2014); studied basketball program of the Detroit Pistons (NBA), Michigan State, Michigan University, Ohio State, DePaul, Northwestern.

Greek Georgios Vavetsis (born 10.07.1968) will be responsible for physical condition of BC Khimki players. Dr. Vavetsis is one of the most authoritative European experts in the field of physical preparation of athletes and their post-traumatic rehabilitation. He underwent training program in sport biochemistry at the medical faculty of Athens University, after which he received his doctorate in physiology of exercise. Vavetsis worked with many professional sports teams including Greek national team at the Olympics and World championships. Georgios has experience in Russia (UNICS and Lokomotiv-Kuban). Last season he spent in the Greek side AEK at a similar position.