LTU - Kazlauskas says No to Lithuania; Job goes to Kurtinaitis or Kemzura

VILNIUS (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Greece boss Jonas Kazlauskas has officially ruled out becoming the next coach of Lithuania.

The job has been vacant since Ramunas Butautas stepped down from the post immediately after Lithuania’s Qualifying Round elimination at the EuroBasket in Poland.

Kazlauskas, who has coached Lithuania before, was contacted by the secretary general of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, Mindaugas Balciunas, about the job on Monday but he is under contract with Greece, the team he steered to EuroBasket bronze last month and will continue to lead at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

"J. Kazlauskas said that on account of the contract (with Greece) that he would not consider any other options or think about them," Balciunas said on his federation's website.

"The conversation was simple, sincere, no anger between us."

Lithuania are to announce on Wednesday who will take the reins and Kazlauskas' withdrawal from consideration means the job will go to either Kestutis Kemzura or Rimas Kurtinaitis.

Kemzura recently decided not to continue with Latvia, whom he led at the EuroBasket in Poland last month, while Kurtinaitis on Tuesday informed the federation of his willingness to be a candidate.

Kurtinaitis served as an assistant to Butautas the past few years with the national side.

"Kurtinaitis today sent a written consent to stand for election to the Lithuanian national team chief coach duties," the federation said.

"Before this, Kestutis Kemzura had agreed to become a candidate.

"One of the candidates will be selected on October 21 in the LKF Executive Committee meeting."

Lithuania are hosting EuroBasket 2011 but they will not play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship unless they receive a wild card.

FIBA