Vladimir Kondrashin

Vladimir Kondrashin was a basketball player with Spartak Leningrad who received the Master of Sports Award in the USSR in 1952. He later became a renowned coach with the Soviet Union, best known as the coach of the Soviet team that upset the United States at the 1972 München Olympics. Kondrashin also coached the USSR at the 1976 Montréal Olympics. In addition to the Olympic gold medal, he led the Soviets to victories at the 1974 World Championships, 1971 EuroBasket, and the 1970 Universiade. On the club level he coached Spartak Leningrad / Saint Petersburg from 1967-95.

Kondrashin earned many honors as a coach. He was named an Honored Coach of the USSR in 1971, received the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1972 and the Order of the Badge of Honour and the Order of Friendship of Peoples in 1985, and was named a recipient of the Order of Friendship in 1995. In 1999 he received the FIBA Order of Merit and was named an honorary citizen of Saint Petersburg. Kondrashin’s greatest honor likely came in 2007 when he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.