Mickey Gorka

Michael "Mickey" Gorka (Hebrew: מיקי גורקה‎; born November 15, 1972) is an Israeli professional basketball coach and former professional player. He is the current head coach for Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli National League.

Mickey Gorka
Gorka with Bnei Herzliya in October 2016
Bnei Herzliya
PositionHead coach
LeagueIsraeli National League
Personal information
Born (1972-11-15) 15 November 1972
Haifa, Israel
NationalityIsraeli
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Career information
College
NBA draft1999 / Undrafted
Playing career1993–2005
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career2006–present
Career history
As player:
1993–1995Hapoel Haifa
1999–2001Hapoel Haifa
2001–2004Maccabi Kiryat Bialik
2004–2005Maccabi Ramat Gan
As coach:
2006–2008Ironi Nahariya (assistant)
2008–2010Maccabi Haifa (assistant)
2010Ironi Nahariya
2011Maccabi Haifa (assistant)
2011–2012Maccabi Haifa
2013–2014Maccabi Kiryat Bialik
2014–2015Bnei Herzliya (assistant)
2015–2017Bnei Herzliya
2017–2018Hapoel Jerusalem (assistant)
2018Ironi Nahariya
2018–2019Maccabi Rehovot
2019–presentBnei Herzliya

Early life and playing career

Gorka was born in Haifa, Israel. He played college basketball for University of West Florida's Argonauts, Wallace State Community College and the Spring Hill College's Badgers, alongside Eric Campbell and Tony Younger.[1]

Gorka started his professional career with Hapoel Haifa and later joined Maccabi Kiryat Bialik and Maccabi Ramat Gan.[1]

Coaching career

In 2006, Gorka started his coaching career as the assistant coach of Ironi Nahariya under Ariel Beit-Halahmy.[1]

On March 2, 2011, Gorka was named Maccabi Haifa new head coach for the rest of the season, replacing Ami Nawi.[2] Gorka led Haifa to finish the 2010–11 Season in the ninth place and secure their place in the Premier League for another season. On January 20, 2012, Gorka parted ways with Maccabi Haifa.[3]

On August 18, 2014, Gorka was named the assistant coach of Bnei Herzliya under head coach Muli Katzurin.[4] On February 10, 2015, Gorka was named Bnei Herzliya new head coach for the rest of the season.[5] On April 2, 2015, Gorka was named Israeli League Coach of the Month for games played in March.[6]

On December 1, 2016, Gorka was named Israeli League Coach of the Month for games played in November.[7] In his third season with Herzliya, he led the team to the 2017 Israeli League Playoffs as the fifth seed, but they eventually were eliminated by Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Quarterfinals.

On December 5, 2017, Gorka parted ways with Herzliya after three years as the head coach.[8] Six days later, Gorka was named the assistant coach of Hapoel Jerusalem for the rest of the season.[9]

On July 1, 2018, Gorka returned to Ironi Nahariya for a third stint, signing a two-year deal.[10] However, on December 11, 2018, he parted ways with Nahariya after five consecutive losses and a 2–7 start to the 2018–19 season.[11]

On December 14, 2018, Gorka was named the head coach of Maccabi Rehovot for the rest of the season, replacing Roy Hagay.[12]

On September 5, 2019, Gorka returned to Bnei Herzliya for a second stint, signing for the 2019–20 season.[13]

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References
  1. "גורקה: מבין את נאווי". mako.co.il (in Hebrew). March 3, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  2. "עמי נאווי סיים את תפקידו במכבי חיפה". walla.co.il (in Hebrew). March 2, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  3. "זה היה באוויר: מיקי גורקה פוטר ממכבי חיפה". ONE.co.il (in Hebrew). January 20, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  4. "מיקי גורקה מונה לעוזרו של קצורין בבני הרצליה". ONE.co.il (in Hebrew). August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  5. "מיקי גורקה ימשיך כמאמנה של בני הרצליה". mako.co.il (in Hebrew). February 10, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  6. "נבחרי חודש מרץ: גורקה ורות'בארט". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  7. "מאמן חודש נובמבר: מיקי גורקה". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). December 1, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  8. "מיקי גורקה סיים את תפקידו בהרצליה". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). December 5, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  9. "מיקי גורקה ישמש כעוזרו של מודי מאור". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). December 11, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  10. "חוזר לעין שרה: גורקה יאמן את הסגולים". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). July 1, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  11. "גורקה סיים את עבודתו בעירוני נהריה". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  12. "אתגר חדש: מיקי גורקה יאמן את מכבי רחובות". ONE.co.il (in Hebrew). December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  13. "חוזר לשרון: גורקה מונה למאמן בני הרצליה". ONE.co.il (in Hebrew). September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
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