Puma announced it is "back in basketball" and the company hired rapper JAY-Z as its president of basketball operations. The brand also announced the signings of top NBA draft prospects DEANDRE AYTON, MARVIN BAGLEY III and ZHAIRE SMITH (COMPLEX, 6/18). ... Serie A side Sampdoria appointed former AS Roma and Chinese Super League side Suning Sporting Dir WALTER SABATINI as its new technical director from July 1. Sabatini was relieved of his duties by the Suning Group in March. With the Chinese group, he oversaw the transfer activities of Inter Milan and CSL side Jiangsu, but alleged disagreements over transfer strategy "led to his departure less than a year after he had been hired" (ESPN.com, 6/18).
COACHES/MANAGERS: League One side Bradford City promoted U18 Manager MICHAEL COLLINS to head coach, his first senior position. The 32-year-old becomes the youngest manager in the top four divisions of English football and succeeds SIMON GRAYSON, who left the club in May (BBC, 6/18). ... Indian Super League side ATK signed former England football int'l STEVE COPPELL as head coach for the upcoming season. The 62-year-old Coppell has managed EPL side Crystal Palace and League Championship side Reading. He also managed Man City (PTI, 6/18). ... Portuguese side Sporting unveiled Serbian SINISA MIHAJLOVIC as manager. The Lisbon club was without a coach and nine players said that they are "breaking their contracts after fans attacked the squad in mid-May." Mihajlovic signed a three-year contract (AFP, 6/18). ... Turkish side Fenerbahce parted ways with head coach AYKUT KOCAMAN after one season, club Chair ALI KOC said in a statement on Monday, two weeks after Koc was elected to take over the club's leadership (REUTERS, 6/18). ... Greek basketball club Olympiacos coach GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS is reportedly leaving the club, which he joined in '14 (MARCA, 6/18). ... Spanish second division side Zaragoza coach NATXO GONZÁLEZ paid his release clause of more than €100,000 ($116,000) to finalize his move to Deportivo La Coruña. Zaragoza announced IMANOL IDIAKEZ as its replacement for González on a one-year deal that includes "an option for a second season" (MARCA, 6/18). ... Spanish second division side Numancia announced JAGOBA ARRASATE is leaving the club (MARCA, 6/18).
