Rastko Popovic named head coach of Concordia Stingers men's basketball

After an extensive search, Concordia Athletics director Partick Boivin has picked Rastko Popovic as the new head coach of the Concordia Stingers men's basketball team.

Popovic has been a part of the Stingers family for the past 14 years.

He was a shooting guard on the basketball team from 2001 to 2006 and since graduation he's worked in a number of different roles at the school's Department of Recreation and Athletics.

"I bleed that Concordia Stingers maroon and gold and I am extremely happy,"  Popovic said. 

"My ultimate goal was always to be a CIS head coach and there is not one place that I would rather do it than Concordia University."

Replacing a legend

Popovic is only the third head coach in the 40 year history of the Stingers basketball program.

He has some large shoes to fill.

Popovic is replacing John Dore, who coached the Stingers for the last 26 season and he led Concorida to 13 national finals over that time. 

"John was a mentor to me through out these years, I have a lot of work to do, this is a very very good program with a rich tradition," Popovic said.

Dore retired from coaching in February.

Focus on recruiting

Boivin said part of the reason he chose Popovic to replace Dore is because of his ability to recruit new players.

"He's a tireless worker and the place where our program is now and the amount of work and the dedication that needs to be put into put into recruiting which essentially is the nerf de la guerre (name of the game) in most CIS sports," Boivin​ said.

"Recruiting wise we have to step it up ... the works starts as soon as were done here." Popovic said.

The Stingers lost in the provincial semi-finals last season.

Their last trip to the national finals tournament was in 2012.