Ale PIPAN

Date of Birth: 24/05/1959

Place of birth: Celje

Team 2007-08: ANWIL WLOCLAWEK (Poland-DBL)

Career: Head coach – Satex Maribor (Slovenia-Division 1A, 1993-96), Pivovarna Lasko (Slovenia-Division 1A, 1997-2000), Krka (Slovenia-Division 1A, 2000-02), Zagorje (Slovenia-Division 1A, 2002-03), Pivovarna Lasko (Slovenia-Divison 1A, 2003-05), Geoplin Slovan (Slovenia-Division 1A, 2005-07), Anwil Wloclawek (Poland-DBL, 2007-08)

International career: Assistant coach – Slovenia National Team (1998-2003), Head coach – Slovenia National Team (2004-08).

Ales Pipan cemented his reputation as an inventive and more than capable coach at last year’s EuroBasket.
He was in line to receive a lot of plaudits before his Slovenia team collapsed in the final minutes of the semi-final against Greece before blowing a lead against Germany. The overall impression was good, though, with Pipan’s team showing it could fight through adversity and beat France with a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at stake. Pipan himself has had to battle just to stay in the basketball business. When he was a young and promising player, a serious knee injury brought an end to his career. Coach of Satex Maribor at only 24, he earned success very quickly on the sideline. After a successful stint with Pivovarna Lako, a team he led to Slovenian Cup glory in 2004, and Krka Novo Mesto, Pipan got his first taste of international experience during the 1999 and 2003 EuroBaskets before becoming head coach in 2005. Pipan first coached abroad in December 2006 and and won a Polish Cup at the end of the 2006-07 season with Anwil Wloclawek.