Kokoškov, a graduate of the University of Belgrade, coached various club teams in Belgrade, and was on the coaching staff of the Yugoslav men's and junior national teams. At the age of 24, Kokoškov became the youngest coach in Yugoslavian basketball history, shortly after suffering serious injuries sustained during the 1990 automobile accident, which ended a promising basketball playing career. His savvy, ambitious nature and command of the English language were factors when he was hired by the University of Missouri'sTigers, as a part of their full-time coaching staff in 1999, making him the first European to hold such a position in NCAADivision Imen's college basketball.
NBA assistant (2000–2018)
In 2000, Kokoškov became the first non-American to be hired as a full-time assistant coach in the NBA, by the Los Angeles Clippers, under head coach Alvin Gentry. In 2003, he joined the Detroit Pistons staff of head coach Larry Brown. He won an NBA championship in 2004 with the Pistons. At the 2006 NBA All-Star Game he served on the Eastern Conference coaching staff. On 20 June 2008, Kokoškov was named an assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns. On 29 May 2013, Kokoškov was named as assistant coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. On 17 February 2015, Kokoškov was named as assistant coach for the Orlando Magic, until the end of the season. On 1 July 2015, Kokoškov was hired by the Utah Jazz to be an assistant coach. On 5 December 2016, Kokoškov led Utah to a win over Los Angeles Lakers, 107–101. Jazz head coach Quin Snyder had fallen ill and missed their game against the Lakers. He would remain assistant coach for the Jazz until their run in the 2018 NBA Playoffs concluded, which ended on 8 May 2018 with a 112–102 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Phoenix Suns (2018–2019)
On 2 May 2018, Kokoškov was hired as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, returning to the team he was previously with from 2008 to 2013. He became the first head coach born and raised outside of North America in NBA history, and officially took on the role on 14 May. In his official head coaching debut in the NBA on 17 October, Kokoškov led the Suns to a 121–100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. However, they finished the season with a 19–63 record, tied for the second-worst record in the league. On 22 April 2019, the Suns fired Kokoškov.
Return to assistant coaching (2019–2020)
On 13 June 2019, Kokoškov was named an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings under new head coach Luke Walton's coaching staff.
Fenerbahçe (2020–present)
On 4 July 2020, Kokoškov was named the head coach for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketball Super League and the EuroLeague. It is his first club coaching appointment in Europe after 25 years.
On 18 January 2016, the Basketball Federation of Slovenia named Kokoškov the new head coach of the Slovenian men's national team, for the next two years. Former Serbian coach Božidar Maljković recommended him for this position to Slovenian Federation Secretary-General Rasho Nesterović. His contract with Slovenia's national team ended after the EuroBasket 2017 where Slovenia won the gold medal.
In 1990, Kokoškov was part of a near-fatal car crash which shattered his knee and ended his basketball career. Kokoškov and his wife, Patricia, were married in the summer of 2009. They have two children: a son and a daughter. On 18 June 2010, Kokoškov became an American citizen. Georgian PresidentMikheil Saakashvili honored Kokoškov with an Order of Honour, the Georgia’s highest civilian honor, on 18 December 2011.
