Kapfenberg Bulls

Kapfenberg Bulls is a basketball club from Kapfenberg Styria. Since 1991, the club plays in the Austrian basketball league. The greatest success achieved by the club in the years 2001-2004 with four championship titles and two wins in the Supercup. So were the Bulls the first Austrian basketball champion who did not come from Vienna and Lower Austria. 2007 with the Cup the team won their last title to date. The greatest international success reached the Bulls in the 2008 /09 season with a third place in the Central European Basketball League, which is the best result an Austrian basketball team in a European competition.

The club was founded in 1976 as a division of the gymnastics club Aflenz. In 1996, the club was moved to a branch of the club Kapfenberg Sports Association and the club seat to Kapfenberg after the Bundesliga team had previously played in the years of their games already in the Kapfenberg Walfersamhalle. Since 2004, the association shall be called Kapfenberg Bulls, having previously said in part "TV Aflenz savings bank ", " savings bank Aflenz Basketball Club " and "Basket Bears". Since 2009, the ice hockey team Kapfenberg Bulls is a division of the Association. The team is the successor of the insolvent Icetigers.

Coach of the team is Michael Schrittwieser, who was involved in this position at all the track winning the Bulls and became the most successful Austrian basketball coach.

History

1974-1985 (creation time)

1974 was built around Adolf " Adi " Schrittwieser and Günther Agath in Aflenz a basketball team that played in the gymnasium of the Provost Aflenz. The team took part in any championship, but wore out some friendlies. The head and first team captain of this group was Gerhard consolation. Adi Schrittwieser described these early days in his diary as follows:

" In the old gym in the building provost train under Gerhard consolation Zechner Hermann, Srb Sepp, Kornton Gust, blacksmith Walter, Hans Leitner, Manfred Seitner, Winterheller Sigi and some others. This so-called Turnsall is about 12 x 6 m, and has much to low hanging baskets. From the rules we do not have much idea, but we play with the more hardness! "

In 1976, this group officially a club as a division of the Turnverein Aflenz, to participate in the Styrian championship can. Since the Styrian Association for the promotion of young talent demanded its own youth team, presented Schrittwieser a young team, consisting of his son Michael Schrittwieser and his classmate from elementary school on. At this time, coached and played the club in the newly built gymnasium of the high school Thoerl. In their first season, the youth team reached the seventh of eight teams in the Styrian championship. Already in the second season ( 1978) the boys were runners-up. The first training camp was held in background moss 1979.

In 1980, the club two junior teams. This year, a free space was built in Aflenz, which was financed (in addition to subsidies from the municipality Aflenz ) in large part from its own resources the club members.

In 1981, three junior teams participating in the Styrian Championships. In addition Aflenz this year reached the summit in the first class. For this reason, the first Legionnaire of the association was founded in 1982 with Pavel Trupl committed.

The first sponsor was won in 1983 with the Sparkasse Aflenz. The club was called TV Sparkasse Aflenz, later Basketball Club savings Aflenz. 1985 increased the first team, which was still coached by Adi Schrittwieser, for the first time in the national league, the highest Styrian league on. In addition, the club won in the age groups " student " and " boys " two Styrian title.

The interest in the sport of basketball in Aflenzer space steadily increased, and some young players of the first generation led by the training of the youth teams. Michael Schrittwieser took over in 1985 the overall lead in the offspring.

1986-1993 ( The Rise )

10 years after the founding of the club played the first team in the 1986/87 season for the first time in the national league. The association's work was professional through the climb. With Boris Cerpes from Marburg to the club for the national league team undertook the first time a foreign coach.

In junior to successes in a Austrian Championships: The Juniors reached the quarter- finals, the youth the runner-up title and the students were Austrian champion. At this time the club took part with a total of six teams to championships.

After a brief qualification for the promotion games in the team Steyr fixed in the 1987/88 season for the first time the promotion to the Bundesliga B. Despite the commitment of the first U.S. Legionary Dwayne Texas, the club rose again the following season in the national league from. Although the five best players were courted extensively by Grazer Bundesliga clubs, no player migrated. In March 1989, Fery Kienesberger took over the team in 1990, the immediate resurgence was managed as a division champion.

In the 1990/91 season the club engaged the native Californians John "Johnny" Griffin. With it, the team dominated the regular season in the Bundesliga, 15 years after the foundation of the association succeeded in 1991, the team's promotion to the Bundesliga A. Since that time, the club is an integral part of the highest Austrian league.

At this time the club expanded into youth development. Under the direction of Roland Korntheuer first training sessions for children and young people from Kapfenberg were performed. Since there were no suitable hall for Bundesliga Basketball Aflenz, the championship games were also held in the sports hall Walfersam in Kapfenberg, 15 km away.

In the first Bundesliga season, the club was able to occupy the fifth place after a weak beginning. The following season, the team had to let some service providers. Legionnaires' search proved difficult, a total of nine U.S. Legionaries were used in the season. At the end of the season the club finished with a 11th place relegation zone. Only by increasing the league the team escaped relegation.

1993-2000 ( on the way to the top club )

1993 ended Michael Schrittwieser his playing career and was instead a " cheap solution " the new coach of the men's team. Except for a break in the season 2002/2003 Schrittwieser should fill that position until the present time and by his later successes with the club 's most successful Austrian basketball coach.

In the 1993/94 season the team finished fifth in the championship and qualified for the first time a European competition. The association set up a marketing group that designed a logo and a bear began as a club mascot. In the course of this action, the club name was changed to Basket Bears.

In 1994 came the Center Helmut Moschik and assistant coach Midhat " Mido " Kamenica to the Bears. With the base by the Legionaries Johnny Griffin, Mike Coffin and Sean Allen, the club slowly worked before at the top of the Bundesliga and celebrated some notable successes in European competitions.

1996 reached the crew of men to third place. The team (seasonally across ) 55 weeks remained unbeaten. Michael Schrittwieser received for his performances this season the award for Coach of the Year, Johnny Griffin was player of the year and Jürgen Kogler was elected by the Bundesliga Newcomer of the Year.

This year, the club moved its headquarters officially to Kapfenberg and were a branch of the club Kapfenberg Sports Association after previously working with the city of Kapfenberg was intensified over the years. The move to Kapfenberg was negatively received by some club members and fans from Aflenz.

1997 was found with the company Montan a new main sponsor, whose Managing Director Karl Thaller president of the association was. Counter Székesfehérvár (Hungary ) for the first time succeeded in rising to the main round of the Korac Cup, the League, third place was achieved as in the previous year. This team finished 1998: After a very good regular season with 14 wins in 18 games, the Bears lost to eventual champion St. Pölten in the semifinals.

In 1999 Kapfenberg failed in the final series of the playoffs in St. Pölten. Second place still the best ever placing in the championship has been achieved since club inception.

In the 1999/2000 season, the Bears forced again their youth work and were the talents Armin Woschank, Aleksandar " Aco " Djuric and Samuel Knabl undertake as a junior player. In January 2000 Kapfenberg stood first in the FA Cup final, but the cup match against Traiskirchen lost with 66:87. Also in the league final, which was first broadcast live in league history in TV on the transmitter TW1, subject to the Bears Traiskirchen.

2001-2004 ( The Master Years )

In the 2000 /01 season, the Bears played in the Cup again against Trai churches and suffered a bitter defeat. Despite a 22 - point lead Traiskirchen could with the strong ex- Kapfenberg Sean Allen turn the final game still and secure with a 72:66 win the title.

But the Bears in the league were more successful. After a semi-final victory against the BasketClubs Vienna Kapfenberg played in the final against the Wörthersee pirates. After two victories for Kapfenberg Klagenfurt and the decisive game was held in the Kapfenberg Walfersamhalle. 1100 spectators, the then 18 -year-old Armin Woschank succeeded in the preliminary round with a three- point shot from nine yards with three minutes remaining. Thus, the Bears went ahead and gave it no longer subsequently out of hand. With a 78:74 victory the Bears celebrated 25 years after the club was founded and three third and two second places in a row, their first league title in the highest Austrian league. Thus, the Bears were the first champion in the Austrian basketball, which did not originate from Vienna and Lower Austria. The title was also the start of a series of four league titles.

In 2002, the Styrian local rivals Fürstenfeld Panthers were defeated in the final, in which the Bears the decision could bring about only in the fifth and decisive game by 109:107 away win after double extension. For discussion here made ​​the then referee Andreas Roth, a foul on an Fürstenfelder player viewed with the final siren that it be imposed free throws but not prevailed since the terraces Kapfenberg fans stormed the pitch. The Kapfenberg Rasheed Broken Borough, the one fixed 89:87 victory in game four with a 2- point shot in the closing seconds, scored 33 points in the deciding game.

In the fall of 2002, Michael Schrittwieser resigned as coach and was athletic director instead of the Bears. He was replaced by Toni Vujanic, who left the club for family reasons in the same autumn again. The new coach Stefan Koch, previously worked among others for the German first division Skyliners Frankfurt, the Bears led to good performances in the international Champions Cup and in the league final.

In the final series, the Bears were against the cup winners Allianz Swans Gmunden back to games already 0:2. Before the third final match Michael Schrittwieser again took over as coach. The Bears were able to win all three remaining games, making them the first and only team of the Austrian basketball league that was such a catch up yet.

In the 2003 / 04 season, the hedge fund Superfund became the new principal sponsor. Since the bear is in the stock-market and falling prices, the club renamed at the instigation of Superfund Kapfenberg Bulls. In the ULEB Cup, the Bulls were able to celebrate a moderate success with a 80:71 win against KK Atlas, the remaining nine games were lost. In the regular season, the Bulls won 16 of 18 games in the spring, however, the team had to insert the longest losing streak in club history with six consecutive defeats. Nevertheless Kapfenberg went as a table first in the playoffs and defeated in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals Traiskirchen catfish, each with 3-0. In the final, the Bulls met again on Gmunden and fixed with a 94:86 win away 3-1 in the final series and the fourth successive title, which should remain the last date.

The performers in the Master 's were legionnaires, led by Rasheed Broken Borough and Mike Coffin and DIY players like Armin Woschank, Samuel Knabel and Aleksandar Djuric.

Since 2005 (the first Cup win )

In the following years Kapfenberg had to let some of these service providers. While the Bulls were still represented in the playoffs, but were no longer on the semi-final addition.

2005 Kapfenberg failed in the semifinals on upper Wart and reached for the first time since 1998, not the league final. 2006 the Bulls lost in the semifinals against catfish with 0:3.

The last Austrian won the team title in 2007 in the form of their only Cup victory. With their fourth finals, the Bulls were able to defeat Fürstenfeld with 73:69. The title of the Most Valuable Player went to Kapfenberg Shawn Ray, who scored 19 points.

In the 2008 season, the Bulls reached after a 4th place in the regular season, the semifinals of the playoffs. Here the Gunners from Oberwart were the last stop after 4 games.

The season 2008/ 09 consisted of a ups and downs for the Bulls. In the Main Round 1, the team was able to secure the fourth place. In the subsequent quarter-final against fifth-placed Traiskirchen Lions, the Bulls were defeated despite home advantage with a win by 1:3 games, wherein the first and fourth game were lost in extra time.

In the 2009/10 season the team reached despite a 6th place in the regular season, the semifinals of the playoffs and was eliminated after three defeats Allianz Swans Gmunden. This result was repeated in the season 2010/11. This time they lost against the same opponent in five games. In the 2011/12 season the team reached a good 3rd place in the regular season. Again eliminated the Bulls only in the semifinals to eventual champion Xion Dukes Klosterneuburg in four games out.

Bundesliga team 2012/13

Participation in international competitions

Since 1994 Kapfenberg took a total of 13 times in international competitions. Eight participations in Korac Cup was followed by two each in the FIBA EuroCup participation Challenge and the ULEB Cup, the second most important European basketball competition, where the club took part in the first Austrian basketball team. In these competitions, the Bulls were able to celebrate some notable successes, but do not play for the title. In the following two years, the Bulls since 1994, began participating in any European competition.

In the 2008 /09 season Kapfenberg represented the Austrian basketball Xion Dukes Klosterneuburg together with the and Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions in the Central European Basketball League. In the group stage, the Bulls played against teams from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and won the only CEBL participants every six games. In the subsequent Final Four, the Bulls lost the semifinal against eventual champions Székesfehérvár. With a 74:67 win over Nový Jičín in the match for third place, the Bulls reached yet the best result of an Austrian Basketball Association in an international competition.

Youth development

Since its inception, the Bulls have strongly set on their own research work. In the period up to promotion to the Bundesliga for the team A consisted largely of self-made players. In the following years, although some legionaries were required, but young players were also introduced to the team and used as a service provider. The Bulls regularly provide some players of the Austrian national team.

The Big Men Academy, the association focused specifically on great basketball player. Aleksandar Djuric, Samuel Knabl, Martin Maier carbon and Heinz Kügerl were trained under this project. Through the young model and team sports academy takes place, the young work for both the grassroots and for the top-level sport, with boarding places are available. A cooperation with the upper level of BRG Kapfenberg allows the young players a Matura its athletic training.

Club structure

The Bulls are since 1996 a branch of the club Kapfenberg Sports Association. This year, the club merged with KSV section basketball, in Kapfenberg worked since 1965 as a top division reached the national league.

1998, the association founder Adi Schrittwieser was replaced as club chairman Karl Thaller. Thaller is also the managing director of the Montan Spedition, a longtime sponsor of the Kapfenberg Bulls.

In summer 2009, an ice hockey team was incorporated as the successor of the insolvent Kapfenberg Icetigers as a division of the Association. The team plays in the big leagues. See also Kapfenberg Bulls (Ice Hockey).

Venue

Since 1988, the Bulls play their home games from the Walfersamhalle in Kapfenberg. The Walfersamhalle was originally the gymnasium of Dr. Franz Jonas Elementary School and was built in 1973. It has a floor area of ​​980 m² and offers about 1,000 visitors. Besides its function as a play and training venue, the hall is further used for events. 1999, a joint-gentle parquet sprung floor was installed.

Fan culture

Since 2009, the fan club Aufoahn who has an official club to support the sport of basketball in Kapfenberg Bulls Kapfenberg and in particular to the destination exists. The name derives from the battle cry ( High German: "One, two, three, start !") " Ans, zwa, three, Aufoahn! " Which has already been called to the national league times primarily at game start just before the jump ball of the fans. Hallmarks of this fan include T -shirts in club colors and - in allusion to the name " Bulls " - the use of cowbells as an acoustic signal.

In addition, since the late 1990s, there is a Fangruppierung that supports the team by drums.

Rankings in league and cup

Former Players

A selection of former players ( in alphabetical order):

• United States Rasheed Broken Borough
• Serbia Aleksandar Djuric
• United States Shawn Ray
• United States jasmone Youngblood