Sportsאורי קוקיה

Uri Kokia

Uri Kokia is an Israeli basketball coach and former player who played center and power forward and was the first active male professional basketball player in Israel to come out as gay.

born 1981Israeli Super League basketball careerComing out as gay in 2017Coaching Elitzur Yavne

Born: 14 May 1981, Ramat Gan
Occupation: basketball player, basketball coach

Uri Kokia was born in 1981 in Ramat Gan

Uri Kokia was born on May 14, 1981. His father, Prof. Ehud Kokia, is a physician. As a child he played basketball for Maccabi Rehovot and Elitzur Yavne, and at 16 he moved to the youth department of Hapoel Tel Aviv.

He played for many Israeli clubs, including Ironi Nahariya, Hapoel Galil Elyon, Bnei Hasharon, Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Holon and Hapoel Jerusalem, where he was team captain. In 2009 he won the State Cup with Hapoel Holon and was named Most Improved Player of the Super League. He was also a member of the Israel national team.

In 2014 he retired and became an assistant coach at Hapoel Jerusalem, which won the championship that season. He returned to play in 2015 and retired again in 2019. He then coached Ironi Ramat Gan, Elitzur Yavne and Maccabi Ma'ale Adumim.

In November 2017 he came out as gay in a report for Sport 5. He lives with his partner Joey, a dancer, and they are raising two daughters.

Milestones in Uri Kokia's life

1981
Born on May 14.
2009
Won the State Cup with Hapoel Holon and was named the league's Most Improved Player.
2014
Retired and became assistant coach at Hapoel Jerusalem.
2015
Won the championship with Hapoel Jerusalem as assistant coach.
2017
Came out publicly as gay.
2019
Retired again and became head coach of Ironi Ramat Gan.
2021
Named head coach of Elitzur Yavne.