Gershon, Pini

Pinhas Gershon

Gershon is among the elite of European coaches. Despite a history of problematic relations with both management and players, it is Pini's truly extraordinary game management instincts and creativity which bring him considerable success. His list of titles includes the Euroleague in 2001, 2004 and 2005, and the Israeli national titles in 1992-93, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2003-04 as well as the 1996, 2000, 20001 and 2004 State Cups of Israel (the years he didn't win, 2002 and 2003, were the years he wasn't coaching).

Gershon coached Maccabi Tel Aviv to their second straight Euroleague title in May, 2005. On May 8, Maccabi played Panathinaikos in the semi's of the Final-Four, held in Moscow. The Israelis went on to win 91-82 in an impressive display. Tel Aviv were even better in the final as they captured the title with a decisive 90-78 victory over Tau Victoria.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. November 11, 1951

Career Highlights:
Gershon played for Maccabi Darom, a client team of Maccabi Tel Aviv. But his playing career amounted to very little and while still in his 20's, he began working towards a coaching job. Three impressive seasons in the Israeli second division were enough to see Gershon through to his first top league job with Hapoel Holon which he led from 1977-1979.

During the 1980's Pini gained a reputation as a savvy coach, with outstanding game handling skills. He also became renowned for fighting with management and the high brass at top league teams. He coached Hapoel Gan Shmuel (1979-81), Hapoel Galil Elyon (1981-83), Maccabi Haifa (1983-85, 1986-87 and 1988-89), Hapoel Tel Aviv (1985-86), Beitar Tel Aviv (1987-88) and Maccabi Ramat Gan (1990-92). Despite some relatively successful seasons, the coach left scorched earth behind him just about everywhere in the personal relations realm.

Galil Elyon decided to give Gershon another chance in the 1992-93 season, and they were happy they did so, as he led an energetic team including Andrew Kennedy and youngster Doron Sheffer to the Israeli championship. In order to put this achievement into perspective, Maccabi Tel Aviv's monopoly on the State Championship had stretched uninterrupted from the 1969-70 season until Gershon's 1992-93 interruption, and their domination has continued uninterrupted since.

Gershon spent a relatively anonymous 1993-1994 season at Maccabi Rishon Letzyion before returning to Galil Elyon. The brief tenure was followed by a less then triumphant return to Galil Elyon where constant fighting with professional director Amit Gal brought the partnership to an end.

Pini took the reigns for the ambitious Hapoel Jeruslaem prior to the 1995-96 season. Local millionaire Nahom Menbar took the team over and put together a strong team including Norris Coleman and local legend Adi Gordon. The team fought Maccabi Tel Aviv all the way in the league for a second place finish. Jerusalem made the State Cup final and beat Maccabi 67-65 off a last second shot, for the first title in Hapoel's history. Gershon was fired halfway through the 1996-97 season after a disappointing start. Rumors were rife that the teams players had sabotaged the coach in an attempt to get him fired.

A pedestrian tenure at Maccabi Rishon Letzyion followed (1997-98) before Gershon was shockingly appointed as head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv. After years of speaking out against the monopolistic domination of the team, and a seemingly irresolvable rift between the coach and Maccabi strongman Shimon Mizrahi, Pini was coach of the biggest team in Israel.

The veteran coach led Maccabi to the national titles for three consecutive campaigns: 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01. However his real mark was left in European competition, where Gershon transformed Maccabi from a peripheral contender, into the strongest team on the continent. Tel Aviv made the European Final-Four for the first time since 1991 in the 1999-2000 season. After beating Barcelona 65-51, in Salonika, with a tremendous display of defensive strategy, Maccabi lost to the Greek team Panathinaikos 73-67 in the final thanks to a strong display by former Maccabi star Oded Katash.

In 2000-2001 Maccabi made the Final-Four once again, this time held in Paris. Tel Aviv beat CSKA Moscow in a thrilling semifinal 86-81. The Israelis faced Panathinaikos in the final once again, this time sans Oded Katash and the advantage of Greek soil. Maccabi captured the Euroleague title easily with an 81-67 victory.

Following the historic European triumph, Gershon was embroiled in a racism scandal after making controversial (and extremely ill-advised) remarks regarding some of his Afro-American players. He was succeeded by his assistant David Blatt and went into an announced retirement. However, Maccabi struggled in Europe under the new coach and all was forgiven as Gershon was reinstated for the 2003-04 campaign. Winning the national title easily, Tel Aviv set their sights on the continental title yet again. Maccabi made the 2003-04 Final-Four, and enjoyed home court advantage in the Tel Aviv setting. After beating Moscow 93-85 in the semi's, Maccabi humiliated Bologna 118-74 as Maccabi won the European title for the fourth time in their history.

Origin:
Tel Aviv, Israel

Career Dates:
Coach 1978-

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