Strasbourg Coach Jānis Gailītis Appointed Head Coach of Latvian National Team

The Latvian Basketball Federation has announced a significant leadership change for its men's national team, appointing Jānis Gailītis, the current coach of SIG Strasbourg, as the new head coach. This decision follows the termination of former coach Sito Alonso's contract.

According to Federation President Raimonds Vējonis, while Sito Alonso is recognized as a high-level coach with experience in top European leagues, circumstances hindered his ability to fully achieve the team's goals. After thorough analysis, the federation decided to conclude their collaboration and entrust the team's direction to a Latvian specialist.

The 40-year-old Gailītis brings an impressive coaching record to the national team. He previously led VEF Rīga, securing a record seven Latvian championship titles, the Latvian-Estonian championship, and three Užava Cups. His extensive experience also includes stints with Latvian national youth teams (U16, U18, earning a silver medal at the U16 European Championship in 2014) and serving as an assistant coach for the senior national team from 2021-2025. He is currently coaching SIG Strasbourg, who hold 4th place in France's Betclic Elite with a 15-7 record this season.

"Taking on the role of head coach for the Latvian national team is a profound acknowledgment of my dedication, a true honor, and a considerable responsibility," Jānis Gailītis stated. "Over the past few years, we have collaboratively forged a successful team. The players representing our nation have consistently demonstrated passion, resilience, and commitment. Moving forward, we are determined to discover new avenues for the team's continued growth, even as new challenges arise."

Latvia is currently participating in the qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup. In Group F, after four matchdays, Poland leads with four victories, followed by the Netherlands with two, while Latvia and Austria each have one win. The top three teams from this group will advance to the second round, where they will face the top three teams from Group E (Croatia, Germany, and Israel).