Vilnius Rytas and head coach Giedrius Žibėnas continue their partnership, having reached an agreement on a new two-year contract. This means that one of the country’s most decorated coaches will lead the team for the sixth consecutive season.
Since taking over Rytas in January 2020, Žibėnas has guided the team to two Betsafe-LKL championships (2022 and 2024) and three runner-up finishes. Last season, under his leadership, Rytas reached the Top 16 in the FIBA Champions League, eventually losing to Malaga Unicaja and Istanbul Galatasaray, and narrowly lost the Betsafe-LKL final series 3-2 to Kaunas Žalgiris.
“Days will pass, years will go… Faces will come and go, but the fighting spirit of Rytas will not change; the fight for the club’s colors must remain the same,” said Žibėnas after confirming he would stay in Vilnius. “I trust our process, I trust our system, so I feel confident staying in Vilnius.”
“We feel that as a club we are growing purposefully, and this is directly related to the coach’s work. Giedrius’ dedication and methodology are well known to us, which is why we made this decision even before starting to make the key roster decisions,” said sports director Artūras Jomantas. “We know that representing Rytas is not easy, and we understand the pressure our coaches and players face. That is why we value that Giedrius prioritizes this organization and we will continue the work we have started, providing opportunities for both young players and Lithuanian coaches to develop within our system.”
However, long-time assistant Georgios Dedas will not be joining Žibėnas this season. Dedas, who has been a key part of Rytas’ coaching staff since Žibėnas arrived, will continue his career abroad as a head coach.
In his farewell message to Vilnius and Rytas fans, Dedas shared:
“Over five years in Vilnius, I met people who became friends for life – both on and off the court. I am most proud that our team never gave up – we fought until the end in every game.
Sometimes in life, you have to make tough decisions. Thank you to the fans – you made Vilnius one of the best arenas in all of Europe, and you have every reason to be proud! Continue fighting for black, white, and red. I will never forget your support. Never.”
The club sincerely thanks Georgios for his dedication, professionalism, and significant contribution to Rytas’ success over the past years. We wish him the best in his new career stage and will always welcome him back to Vilnius – a city where he will always be valued.
The club is currently working intensively to complete the coaching staff for the next season. Updates on these changes will be shared soon.