Veljko Mršić


Veljko Mršić is a Croatian professional basketball coach and former player. He currently serves as a head coach for Zadar of the Croatian League and the Croatia national team.

Playing career

Clubs

Mršić was a member of the FIBA European Selection team in 1995.

Croatia national team

Mršić was a member of the senior Croatia national team, that won bronze medals at the 1994 World Championship, EuroBasket 1993 and EuroBasket 1995. He was also on the squad for the 1996 Summer Olympics, EuroBasket 1999 and EuroBasket 2001.

Coaching career

Split (2006)

Mršić started his head coaching career with his hometown club Split CO. In June 2006, he was named the head coach of the club, but following a series of poor results in the NLB League, Mršić was sacked on 13 December 2006.

Varese (2007–2008)

Following the dismissal in his hometown, Mršić was appointed the head coach for Pallacanestro Varese of the Italian Serie A on 13 June 2007. Later, he left his head coach role, taking an assistant coach role until 2008.

Cedevita (2011–2012; 2013–2017)

In 2011 Mršić was named the head coach for the junior team of Cedevita, winning the Croatian Championship for Juniors with them. Later, he worked as an assistant coach under Cedevita head coach Jasmin Repeša who has left the bench due to health problems in June 2015, in the end of the 2014–15 season; when Mršić was named the new head coach for the senior squad. In the next season, the club won Croatian Championship and reached the semifinal of the Adriatic League.
In the following season, Cedevita again won the national championship, but was eliminated in the Adriatic League Final by Crvena zvezda. In May 2017, Mršić was sacked by the club and replaced by Slovenian Jure Zdovc.

Cibona (2012)

On 11 June 2012, Mršić was named the head coach for Cibona of the ABA League and the Croatian League. He signed a three-year-deal, but on 26 November 2012, after a loss to Crvena zvezda, he was sacked.

Bilbao Basket (2017–2018)

On 27 November 2017, Mršić was appointed the head coach for the Liga ACB club Bilbao Basket. On 30 April 2018, he parted ways with the Spanish team, which was taken by Slovenian Jaka Lakovič.

Zadar (2020–present)

On 25 June 2020, Mršić was named the head coach for Zadar of the Croatian League.

Coaching record

EuroLeague

National team coaching career

Croatia (2019–present)

On 2 May 2019, the Croatian Basketball Federation reported Mršić was appointed the new head coach of the senior Croatian men's national team, after he has parted ways with Cedevita, where he worked as the sporting director.
Mršić debuted at Croatia bench at the NBA Summer League, while in July, he celebrated winning the Stanković Cup held in China.
On 5 February 2020, Mršić published the roster for EuroBasket 2021 qualification, bringing back two experienced players Krunoslav Simon and Roko Ukić on the squad. On 21 and 24 February, Croatia won two qualification games against Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Career achievements and awards

As player:
As head coach: