Gintaras Krapikas continues as Zalgiris head coach 0

After one season together, Zalgiris Kaunas and head coach Gintaras Krapikas have decided to keep a good thing going by agreeing to a contract extension for 2009-10, the club announced Tuesday. Krapikas, who helped Zalgiris make it to the 1986 European Cup title game as a player, became the team’s head coach last October, replacing Rimantas Grigas. Krapikas had previously been an assistant coach with the team from 2000 to 2006 and again at the start of the 2008-09 season, before Grigas resigned. Krapikas helped Zalgiris to make it to the Lithuanian League, Lithuanian Cup and Baltic League finals, losing them all against Lietuvos Rytas. His team was also one victory away from making it to the Euroleague Top 16. Krapikas had also been Unics Kazan’s assistant coach for two years before returning to Kaunas last season.

"It was a very difficult season for Gintaras, as he had to work hard on and off the court," Zalgiris general manager Paulius Motejiunas said. "With a more stable situation, the coach will be able to concentrate on his direct work only and lead the team to big wins."