Eduard Sandler, president and head coach of Russian basketball club Dynamo Vladivostok, has died after being involved in a recent jet ski accident. He was 44.
“Eduard Mikhailovich Sandler has passed away,” read a statement from the team. “This is an irreplaceable loss for the entire sports community of the Primorsky Krai region and for Russian basketball. Eduard Mikhailovich dedicated his life to the development of the sport, the nurturing of players, and the building of a strong system.”
The statement continued, “Thanks to his energy, character, and commitment, Dynamo achieved great success and significant victories. All who knew Eduard Mikhailovich will remember him as a man who loved basketball and the Primorsky Krai region with all his heart. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, friends, colleagues, and all who share this profound loss.”
The accident occurred on Tuesday, July 28, when Sandler lost control of his jet ski in Vladivostok’s Amur Bay, sending him crashing into a rocky embankment as his jet ski overturned. Emergency services were called, but the coach was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Former NBA player and current president of the Russian Basketball Federation Andrei Kirilenko offered his condolences to Sandler’s family and friends in a statement shared via Instagram.
“Of course, it’s very sad and bittersweet when someone passes away in the prime of their life,” Kirilenko, 45, wrote. “It’s a great tragedy. Sandler was a great basketball enthusiast, with his own unique personality — he was blunt and quick-tempered, but he loved the game very much. He never stopped pursuing his basketball dreams; he always pursued them. For many years, Eduard embodied basketball in the region. This is a great loss for the club and for basketball as a whole. Sandler was the driving force behind Dynamo Primorsky, which played so brilliantly in recent years.”
Sandler took over as head coach of Dynamo Vladivostok in 2023, leading the club to the Super League gold medal in 2024. His team was just months removed from earning a spot in the VTB United League, Russia’s highest level of basketball competition. The team will enter the league at the start of the 2026-27 season.
The veteran head coach also led Spartak Primorye, Sakhalin and Vostok-65 during his career on the Russian coaching circuit.
A memorial has been set up at Dynamo’s facility in Vladivostok, allowing fans, players and staff to pay their respects, according to Essentially Sports.
