| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1972-06-13)June 13, 1972 (age 52) Istanbul,Turkey |
| Listed height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 1989–2004 |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 15 |
| Coaching career | 2006–present |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| 1989–1999 | Efes Pilsen |
| 1999–2001 | Ülkerspor |
| 2001 | Bnei Herzliya |
| 2001 | Montepaschi Siena |
| 2001–2002 | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| 2002–2003 | Darüşşafaka |
| 2003–2004 | Beşiktaş |
| As a coach: | |
| 2006–2007 | Beşiktaş (assistant) |
| 2007 | Beşiktaş |
| 2007–2008 | Beşiktaş (assistant) |
| 2008–2011 | Anadolu Efes (assistant) |
| 2011–2012 | Anadolu Efes |
| 2012–2016 | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| 2014–2017 | Turkey (assistant) |
| 2016–2018 | Beşiktaş |
| 2017–2020 | Turkey |
| 2019–2025 | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As head coach:
| |
Ufuk Sarıca (born June 13, 1972) is a Turkish professionalbasketball coach and former player who played at theshooting guard position.
Sarıca began his career at the age of 16 at Efes Pilsen's Youth Team, and played for Efes for 11 consecutive seasons. During his time at Efes, he won theKorać Cup in 1996, beatingItalian sideOlimpia Milano at the two-legged final. While withEfes Pilsen he reached the European Cup final as well as playing in theEuroLeague Quarter-finals 4 times (3 of these quarterfinals were consecutive between 1997 and 1999). He was part of the strong Efes roster along withHidayet Türkoğlu,Ömer Onan, andHüseyin Beşok. He left the team in the summer of 1999 after important members of the legendary Efes Team of 1996,Tamer Oyguç,Murat Evliyaoğlu, andVolkan Aydın, were let go from the club.
He joinedÜlkerspor where he won the Turkish League title during the 2000–2001 season. AsHarun Erdenay became more influential in the forward position his playing time was limited and as such he moved toIsraeli sideBnei Herzliya. This was followed by a short spell atMontepaschi Siena.
After Siena, Sarica returned to Turkey and played atPınar Karşıyaka,Darüşşafaka, andBeşiktaş Cola Turka, each for a single season, after which he retired.
Sarıca began his post-retirement career as the assistant ofMurat Didin at Beşiktaş. When Didin left the club in March 2007, Sarıca was appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season. Then he worked withErgin Ataman as assistant coach at Beşiktaş again where they reached theTBL play-off semi-finals in the2007-08 season. Ataman left the Beşiktaş and joined Efes Pilsen at the end of the season and Sarıca joined Efes Pilsen as the assistant coach of Ataman once again.[1] He became head coach on an interim basis during the 2010–11 season and was handed the role as permanent head coach in June 2011.
On July 17, 2012, he signed a two-year contract withPınar Karşıyaka.[2] He won theTurkish Cup championship in the 2013–14 season. On June 5, 2014, he signed an extension contract with Pınar Karşıyaka until 2015. On June 19, 2015, he won theTurkish League championship in 2014–15 season by beatingFenerbahçe Ülker andEfes Pilsen in semifinals and finals.[3]
He signed a three-year contract withBeşiktaş on August 2, 2016.[4]
On June 25, 2019, he has signed 3-years deal with former teamPınar Karşıyaka.[5] In June 2025, he parted ways withPınar Karşıyaka.[6]
Turkish League (withEfes Pilsen: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97; withÜlkerspor: 2000–01)Turkish Cup (withEfes Pilsen: 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98)Turkish Basketball President's Cup (withEfes Pilsen: 1993, 1996, 1998)
Korać Cup: (withEfes Pilsen: 1995–96)Turkish League (withPınar Karşıyaka:2014–15)Turkish Cup (withPınar Karşıyaka:2013–14)Turkish Basketball President's Cup (withPınar Karşıyaka: 2014)