Rytas has officially finalized its coaching staff for the upcoming season. Joining head coach Nedas Pacevičius this summer are well-known specialists Vesa Vertio, Matas Juzeliūnas, and Mindaugas Brazys. A two-year contract has been signed with Pacevičius and the strategist from Finland, with an option to terminate after the season, while a one-year agreement has been reached with the rest of the coaching staff.
The coaching staff has been joined by two new assistants – Matas Juzeliūnas, who worked successfully as an assistant coach at Nevėžis-Paskolų klubas of Kėdainiai for the last four seasons and served as the team’s head coach since April, and the highly experienced Mindaugas Brazys, who has previously successfully assisted Nedas Pacevičius. For Brazys, this is also a return to the capital – the strategist already worked at Rytas for three seasons (2017–2020), when he assisted the team’s then-strategist D. Adomaitis. Later, Brazys accumulated coaching experience at Neptūnas Klaipėda. The head coach’s main assistant will continue to be the basketball specialist from Finland, Vesa Vertio, successfully continuing his tenure in Vilnius.
There will also be changes in the strength and conditioning area. From now on, the players’ physical condition will be managed by two specialists instead of one. Joining team veteran Tadas Jackūnas is Martynas Liuima, who worked with the Kėdainiai team last season.
Rytas Vilnius head coach Nedas Pacevičius spoke in detail about the formed coaching group and the significance of each staff member:
“When choosing the coaching staff, both competence and human qualities were undoubtedly taken into account. Working together with Vesa in the club last season, we quickly found a common language; the coach is respected in the club both among the players and the people around the team, so there was not the slightest doubt about continuing our joint work together,” head coach N. Pacevičius said about the coaching staff. “Matas, who will join the coaching staff, is one of the fastest-developing young coaches in Lithuania. Having long-term experience as an assistant coach, he also has head coaching experience. His profile was exactly what we were looking for when expanding our coaching group. Mindaugas’s abilities are well known to me, I know what he can give to the team here and now, so this is also an excellent addition to ensure we have the clearest and most structured process possible throughout the season. As for Tadas, he is one of the longest-serving people in the club, whose loyalty and competence raise no questions. We are glad that he is staying with Rytas for another season. Also, a change in the coaching staff will be that from now on we will have two physical preparation coaches instead of one – Martynas Liuima is joining us and will help both Tadas and all players ensure an even higher quality training process.”
The fully formed Rytas staff has already started preparations for the upcoming battles of the season, aiming to ensure maximum professionalism in every stage of training and tactical preparation.
The coaches and the team will begin their preparation for the season as early as August 24–25.