Gran Canaria name Aito Garcia Reneses head coach

One of Europe’s best-known coaches, Aito Garcia Reneses, returns to the Eurocup sidelines this season after taking over as head coach at Herbalife Gran Canaria, the club announced Wednesday. The sides agreed to a two-year contract. Coach Garcia Reneses, widely known as Aito, has won five continental titles during his impressive coaching career, including the Eurocup – then known as the ULEB Cup – in 2008 with Joventut Badalona. He spent the past two seasons with Cajasol Seville, which he led to the Spanish league playoffs last season. Aito is best known for his work with promising young talents, of which he has helped countless bridge the gap from prospects to bona fide professionals.

Aito made his coaching debut in 1974 with Circulo Catolico of Badalona, later known as Cotonificio Badalona. He coached Joventut from 1983 to 1985, finishing as runner-up in the Spanish League in his last season there. Then began a 17-year stay at FC Barcelona during which the club joined Europe's elite echelon. As head coach during three different stints, Aito led Barcelona to nine Spanish League titles. He also took Barcelona to four European title games and six Final Fours, while winning the Korac Cup twice, in 1987 and 1999, and the Saporta Cup in 1986. Garcia Reneses returned to Joventut in 2003 and won the 2006 FIBA EuroCup and the 2007 ULEB Cup trophies. He coached the Spanish national team to a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, challenging the favored United States before losing a gold-medal game that is already considered a classic in world basketball history. During three seasons with Unicaja Malaga, Aito guided the club to the Spanish League semifinals in 2009 and 2010 as well as the Spanish King's Cup final in 2009.