Rimas Kurtinaitis is no longer the head coach of the Lithuanian national basketball team.
As officially confirmed by the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, the experienced tactician has decided to step down from his position, with his entire coaching staff submitting their resignations alongside him. The departure comes after nearly two years of collaboration, forcing the governing body of Lithuanian basketball to act quickly to secure a new leader for the bench.
New head coach to arrive after federation elections
The identity of the new head coach will be announced following the completion of the presidential elections within the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, at the latest before preparations begin for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying window. The election for the new leadership is scheduled for late October or early November, after which the new administration will officially appoint Kurtinaitis’ successor.
Two years on the bench and a fifth-place EuroBasket finish
Kurtinaitis took charge of the national team in October 2024, spending nearly two full years at the helm. The highlight of his tenure came last year when he guided Lithuania to a respectable fifth-place finish at EuroBasket. Speaking on his departure, Kurtinaitis explained in an official statement that the decision had been in motion for some time:
“I made the decision to part ways with the national team. I believe now is the right moment so that the new coaching staff has enough time to prepare for the upcoming qualification window. I made up my mind after the first round of qualifications, but I was asked to step in and lead the team through this final window as well.”
The legendary former player and decorated head coach took the opportunity to express his gratitude to everyone involved throughout his tenure:
“I wish the best of luck to the coaching staff that will succeed me and to the entire Lithuanian national team. I also want to sincerely thank my players who answered the call and helped during such a critical moment for Lithuanian basketball. A big thank you to the entire team staff, assistant coaches, and all the fans who supported us throughout this challenging period,” concluded Kurtinaitis.
