Zalgiris names Maksvytis head coach

Zalgiris Kaunas has named Kazys Maksvytis as its new head coach, effective Tuesday.

Maksvytis takes over from Jure Zdovc, who leaves the team via mutual agreement. Zdovc took over in mid-October of this season.

Maksvytis, 44, signed a two-year deal with an option for a third season. He is the Lithuanian national team head coach, too. Maksvytis brings former Zalgiris head coach Gintaras Krapikas onto his coaching staff. Assistant coaches Tautvydas Sabonis and Evaldas Berzininkaitis will remain in their current positions.

“First of all, I would like to thank Coach Zdovc for his work and dedication. Jure joined the team at a really difficult time, he tried to help the team and deserves a lot of praise for that,” said Zalgiris general manager Paulius Motiejunas. “However, we have decided to lay the foundations not only for the end of this season, but also for next year, so we have decided to make the changes now. It's no secret that Maksvytis will have to spend the summer working for the Lithuanian men’s national basketball team, so he will be able to use the months of this season to get to know the players and coaches as well as to convey his philosophy and mentality to the people who will be staying in the club so that he can prepare for the new season with a clear plan.”

Maksvytis has also coached Neptunas Klaipeda, Lietkabelis Panevezys and Sakalai Vilnius in Lithuania and Parma in Russia. He made his EuroLeague debut with Neptunas during the 2014-15 season.