Hadar quits Hapoel Tel Aviv after less than four months

After earning the distinction of being the only coach to guide Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv in the same season, Rami Hadar registered another first of Friday when he resigned from his position at Hapoel, four months after doing so at Maccabi.

Hadar decided to quit after Hapoel dropped to a 13-16 record last Thursday, two games back of a place among the top eight who will qualify for the playoffs. Hapoel, which has four more regular season games to play, lost 91-84 at Hapoel Eilat despite leading by as many as 19 points in the second quarter.

Roei Hagay was named on Saturday as Hadar’s replacement, receiving a deal until the end of the season from sport director Effi Birenboim under which he worked as an assistant for many years.

Hadar only joined Hapoel at the start of January, less than three weeks after he resigned from his position at Maccabi. Hadar began the season as Erez Edelstein’s assistant at the yellow-and-blue before taking his job following Edelstein’s surprise sacking just five games into the campaign. Hadar lasted less than two months at Maccabi, with his short tenure coming to an end when he resigned a day after a humiliating Euroleague loss at Red Star Belgrade.

He guided Maccabi in 18 games in total, and lasted only 17 at Hapoel after replacing Sharon Av-rahami, who was fired with Hapoel owning a 6-6 record.

Meanwhile, Hapoel Holon moved back level with leader Hapoel Eilat at 19-10 on Friday, beating Maccabi Haifa 85-74. Holon held a 12-point gap (43-31) at the break and seemed to be cruising when it took an 18-point cushion (7153) into the final 10 minutes. Haifa closed within five points (77-72), but came no closer.

James Bell had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Holon, with Gregory Vargas scoring 22 points for Haifa, which