It took less than 24 hours for Lietuvos Rytas to appoint a new coach after Antanas Sireika left the club. Rimas Kurtinaitis will be his successor and 13th coach in Rytas history. 48-year-old Lithuanian coach was working as an assistant coach of his compatriot Tomas Pacesas in Asseco Prokom.
Kurtinaitis was one of the best Lithuanian players of all time. He represented CSKA Moscow (Russia), Zalgiris (Lithuania), Hagen (Germany), Huesca (Spain), Suns (Australia), Real Madrid (Spain), Chalon (France), Angers (France), Atletas (Lithuania) and finished his career in 1999 with Lietuvos Rytas. Rimas Kurtinaitis was a member of Lithuania national team in 1990-1996.
His coaching career started in 2003 as he took charge of Gala Baku (Azerbaijan) and Azerbaijan national team. Rimas Kurtinaitis made a big impact on basketball in Azerbaijan taking it to a higher level.
In 2006 Kurtinaitis was offered a job in Russian league at Ural Great. Though his first season came to an end sooner than planned as he was fired before new year.
Sakalai in Lithuanian Basketball League was the next stop of Kurtinaitis. He became a head coach of Vilnius club in January, 2007. In the same year the new coach of Lithuania national team invited Kurtinaitis to become his assistant. Since then he's a member of Lithuania national team coaching staff.
