EuroLeague
Photo: EuroLeague

After eight years at the helm, Latvia and Ainars Bagatskis have parted ways due to the new international window.

With FIBA not budging to alter the system, which starts in November and has windows during the EuroLeague and NBA season, Bagaskis feels that wherever he will land a job next, will not give him time to coach the national side.

“Thank you for the opportunity to start working with the team before eight years ago. We have taken a step forward with each tournament, but this was the toughest one”, Bagatskis said in a statement.

“When considering all the pros and cons, I have decided that I have to go on with my career. I explained to the Federation that I do not want to go on with the (national team) There is a new selection for the World Cup and it is no longer possible to combine working in the (national team) and a club.”

Bagaskis joins Great Britain’s Joe Prunty, Slovenia’s Igor Kokoskov, Germany’s Chris Fleming and Italy’s Ettore Messina as coaches who have left as a result of FIBA’s new international window.