RUS – Kazlauskas takes over at CSKA

MOSCOW (Superleague) – Veteran Lithuanian coach Jonas Kazlauskas has returned to the sidelines as the new boss of CSKA Moscow.

The 56-year-old, who led Greece’s national side the past two years and coached China in his previous job before leaving after the 2008 Olympics, has returned to the club game where he has been hugely successful during his long career.

CSKA announced Kazlauskas’ appointment in a statement by club president Andrei Vatutin on the team’s website on Monday.

The Russian giants have been one of the dominant sides in Europe for a decade but were this season undermined by numerous injuries, leading to the departure of Dusko Vujosevic and appointment of assistant Dmitry Shakulin as an interim coach.

The team did not reach the Euroleague Top 16 and is focusing on the domestic title.

Right now, CSKA are in second place, trailing UNICS Kazan.

Vatutin said: “During the Board meeting it took a long time for us to carefully discuss all the pluses and minuses of signing the new coach now, with three and a half months until the end of the season.

“Finally, we concluded that certainty on a head coaching position will allow us to solve two tasks – to improve the team’s game this season and to start creating the new team for the next season.

“Taking over in CSKA now will give Kazlauskas enough time to get know the players abilities from inside the process.

“We are very serious about the club’s future so we were very cautious and careful in choosing the coach, we analyzed the market of all the coaches who are available now and who will be available in the summer.”

Kazlauskas guided Zalgiris Kaunas to a FIBA EuroLeague title in 1999, one year after the team’s Saporta Cup success against Stefanel Milan in Belgrade.

He was also a coach of Lithuania’s national team and coached them at the 2000 Olympics when they nearly upset the United States in the semi-finals before settling for a bronze-medal triumph against hosts Australia.

After leaving China, Kazlauskas guided Greece to the bronze medal at EuroBasket 2008 and the country had had high hopes of reaching the podium last summer at the FIBA World Championship but they made an Eight-Finals exit after a narrow defeat to Spain.

“Jonas is an experienced and motivated coach who is known for his abilities to build a balanced game and who knows how to work with the young players,” Vatutin said.

“It is important that he took part in development projects – his work in Chinese national team can be considered as one.

“His knowledge in English and Russian languages is also a big factor. We liked his big desire to work in CSKA.

“We are grateful to Dmitry Shakulin for his readiness and enthusiasm to work during tough transition times and for several big wins in PBL and VTB League.

“I am sure that Dmitry got invaluable head coaching experience. As for the coaching staff, it will be confirmed soon.”

Kazlauskas is one of three Lithuanians coaching in Russia’s top flight.

The Lithuania national team coach, Kestutis Kemzura, is at the helm of Lokomotiv Kuban while Valdemaras Chomicius is the boss of BC Triumph.

The coach who led CSKA to the Russian title and into the Euroleague Final Four one year ago, Evgeny Pashutin, is the coach of PBL leaders UNICS Kazan.

FIBA