"Basketball coaches are the greatest value and pride of Lithuanian basketball – basketball starts with the coach, and therefore it is great that basketball coaches' training has been revived at Klaipėda University," said Mindaugas Balčiūnas, Secretary General of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.
Klaipėda University will now offer the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Leisure Sports, and athletes will have excellent conditions to undertake a dual career: to study and continue their sports activities. Students who continue their sports activities will benefit from a flexible study timetable and consulting hours as well as from reduced tuition fees.
"At Klaipėda University, new opportunities open up for those who want to become basketball coaches. We are pleased to cooperate with the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, which boasts competent specialists ready to contribute to the implementation of the specialism at Klaipėda University," said KU Rector prof. dr. Artūras Razbadauskas.
Vaidotas Pečiukas, a former player of Klaipėda Neptunas team, was pleased to have the opportunity to acquire a teacher's qualification in Klaipėda. "I have a Bachelor's degree, but do not have a teacher or coach diploma; after completing this programme, I will be able to continue to work with children as a coach," said Pečiukas.
Established in 1991, Klaipėda University is today a dynamic and growing multidisciplinary higher education institution. Around 3,000 students study at KU in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programmes every year. Over more than three decades, nearly 40,000 graduates – teachers, business managers, politicians and civil servants, scientists, nurses, radiologists, and journalists – have completed their studies here. They will soon be joined by future basketball coaches.
