Niners Chemnitz extend with Coach Pastore until 2026

Basketball Bundesliga club Niners Chemnitz has extended the contract with head coach Rodrigo Pastore ahead of schedule until 2026. This was announced by the club on Thursday. Originally, the working paper of the 50-year-old Argentine was dated until summer next year. "We are very happy and proud at the same time that Rodrigo has decided to stay at our club for another long term. He is undoubtedly one of the fathers of our successes in recent years and we are convinced with him to have exactly the right man on the Chemnitz sidelines," said Niners Managing Director Steffen Herhold.

"We have made an incredible development. I firmly believe that our path is far from over and that we can tackle new, high goals together," said Pastore, who feels "enormously comfortable" with his family in Chemnitz.

Pastore took over the team in the summer of 2015 after it was 13th in the table and only just managed to avoid relegation from the 2nd Bundesliga. Already in his first year, he provided a clear turnaround, led Chemnitz directly into the playoffs and in subsequent years twice to the semifinals. Thanks to his meticulous work, the club was promoted to the German top flight for the first time in its history in 2019/2020. In just their second BBL year, they made the playoffs and qualified for a European competition for the first time. With eight years at the same location now, Pastore is the longest-serving head coach in the Basketball Bundesliga.