Eduard Sandler, Russian basketball coach, dies in water‑scooter crash

Eduard Sandler, 44, the president and head of the technical staff of Dinamo Vladivostok, was killed on 28 July 2026 after his water‑scooter lost control and slammed into a concrete embankment in Vladivostok. He died on the scene, and Russian authorities have opened an investigation into possible safety‑rule violations.

Sandler, also the selector of Russia’s under‑20 national team, had led Dinamo to its first Super‑League championship in the 2023‑24 season and was preparing for the club’s debut in the VTB United League. Earlier in his career he served a two‑year prison term (2016‑18) for financial misconduct involving club‑budget funds, but returned to coaching and rebuilt a successful program.

Dinamo Vladivostok released an emotional statement mourning the loss, describing Sandler as a lifelong devotee of basketball development and a key figure in the sport’s growth in the Primorsky region.