Dragan Raca (Serbian Cyrillic: Драган Раца; born 3 March 1961) is a Cypriot–Serbian basketball coach and former player. He used to be the coach of the national basketball teams of Lebanon, Cyprus and North Macedonia national basketball team. He is the current head coach of the Wuhan Dangdai in the Chinese Basketball Association.^[1]

Dragan Raca spent his professional career playing for Yugoslavia professional teams: KK Knin, BC December 22 - Belgrade, KK Zorka - Sabac, KK Sibenka - Sibenik. He continued his career in Cyprus in AEL - Limassol.

He was building a professional coaching career in Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Macedonia and China. He trained Cypriot AEL and Apoel, as well as Lebanese Hekmeh. Dragan Raca was named the best young coach in Europe by FIBA in 2002, and in 2005 FIBA named him the best coach in club competitions under her auspices. The basketball team of Lebanon led on the Asian’s championships in 2007 and 2009 and won a silver medal at the 2007 championship. At the 2009 Chinese Championship, he was placed in the 2010 World Cup in Turkey.

He was building a professional coaching career in Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Macedonia and China. He trained Cypriot AEL and Apoel, as well as Lebanese Hekmeh. Dragan Raca was named the best young coach in Europe by FIBA in 2002, and in 2005 FIBA named him the best coach in club competitions under her auspices. The basketball team of Lebanon led on the Asian’s championships in 2007 and 2009 and won a silver medal at the 2007 championship. At the 2009 Chinese Championship, he was placed in the 2010 World Cup in Turkey.

The winner of the silver medal at the Williams Jones Intercontinental Cup in China in 2007 and 2008.

With the Cypriot national team, which he led in 2004-2005, he won the gold medal at the B Olympic Games of the European Championship in Andorra in 2005 - without a lost game.

The supervisor and also the coordinator of projects supported by China's Guangxi Teachers Education University and Guangxi University of Science and Technology, as well as 12 other faculties in China, cooperate with universities in the US, Australia and Russia.

For his contribution to humanitarian activities, he was decorated with the Order of the Republic of Serbia.

Education

Honorary Doctoral degree Alfa BK University - for his exceptional contribution in the field of sports, sports management, training technology, university education in the field of sports science, and humanitarian activities in the territory of Europe, Asia and America.

Basketball University of Belgrade (Highest Level)

University of mathematics and natural science in Belgrade.

Languages: English, Russian, Greek, Ex-Yugoslav republic languages

Playing career

Career player Dragan Raca spent in the following basketball clubs:

Zorka Sabac, Kvarner, Sibenik, First Partizan, Etea, AEK, Aris, Keravnos, Ahileas, AEL

He played for the representation of Cyprus from 1994 to 1999.

Achievements:

Three times best scorer of former Yugoslavia A1

Four times best scorer of Cyprus A1 and the best scorer in the history of Cyprus basketball

Coaching career

Personal

Both his daughters Tiana and Ivana, are basketball players.^[2]

Achievements

As coach of Eka-AEL (Cyprus)

Champion of Cyprus (Eka-AEL) – club won the title after 15 years

Winner Championship season 2002/2003 – best defensive team (average 62 points)

Winner Championship season 2003/2004 – best defensive team (average 65 points) – best offensive team (86 points) – only one lost game in season

Winner Championship season 2004/2005-best defensive team (average 68 points)

Winner of the National Cup-after 18 years Season 2003/2004-no lost game

Winner of Super cup Season 2003/2004+ FIBA Euroleague-best defensive team (average 61 points)

Winner of FIBA Euro Challenge Cup Season 2002/2003 (10 straight victories in 10 games – unbeaten record)

Nominated for the Coach of the year in all sports in Cyprus in 2003, 2004, 2005

Nominated for The best basketball coach in Cyprus in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009.

As coach of SAGESSE (Lebanon)

Sagesse (Lebanon) (13 games – 11 victories),  best defensive team season 2005/2006

National cup finalist and finalist of Championship

As coach of APOEL NOCOSIA (Cyprus)

Finalist of Championship Season 2007

Best defensive team (average 65 points)

WINNER – SUPER CUP  2008/2009

WINNER – NATIONAL CUP  2008/2009

AEL Proteas EKA – 1st Place after regular season

Best defensive team (average 67 points) – regular season

Best offensive team (average 88 points) – regular season

Awards

• The Best Rookie Fiba Coach Europe – nominated by FIBA in 2003.
• The Best European FIBA COACH – officially nominated by FIBA in Munich (June2004)
• The Best Coach Of The Year Eurobasket All League (2004)
• Coach Of The European Team ( All star game) Europe vs. Rest of the world – Kyiv 2004
• Coach Of The European Team ( All star game) Europe vs. Rest of the world – Nicosia 2005
• Winner Of Super League FIBA Asian 2005/2006.
• The Best Coach Of Super League FIBA Asian 2005/2006

His method for physical preparation is officially approved by Indiana University in USA.

Other achievements

Counsellor, professor and instructor in the coaches schools

Supervisor and organizer of the FREMA international camp 2004

(Europe – Cyprus, Asia – Lebanon, S.America – Brazil)

Instructor of the national program for sport infrastructure support (E.S.Y.A.A. Greece, Cyprus) for four consecutive years

Instructor of the coaches School China Basketball Federation National.

Previews coaches are Dell Harris and Pat Riley.

Books

Dragan Raca wrote several books about basketball.

First one "Basketball" (1998) was translated on eight languages and sold in 68.000 copies. All proceeds from the book Dragan Raca donated to charity, international organization "SOS Villages", children without parents.

• Scouting (1999)
• Physical preparation of professional teams(2000)
• Basic of Basketball (2001)
• Offence technical analysis (2008)
• Defense technical analysis (2008)
• Scouting analysis (2008)
• Basketball Analysis (2013)
• Basketball Camp (2013)
• MTM Basketball Defense (2014)
• Basketball Team Development (2016)
• Basketball Player Development (2017)

Dragan Raca books are now used as school books on Sport Universities.

References

• Dragan Raca and Chongqing FLY DRAGONS – Video link
• Serbian coach leads the Chinese “Fly Dragons” – Link
• Dragan Raca to Lecture Chinese Basketball Federation Coaches Clinic – Link