Vladas Garastas Sports commentator, Lithuanian basketball coach Date of Birth: 08.02.1932 Country: Lithuania

1. Sporting Commentator, Lithuanian Basketball Coach
2. Early Life and Education
3. Basketball Career
4. Formation of Own Team
5. International Coaching
6. Later Career and Controversy

Sporting Commentator, Lithuanian Basketball Coach

Vladas Garastas is a prominent sports figure in Lithuania and one of the most well-known Lithuanian basketball coaches. He was born on February 8, 1932, in Linkuva, a small railway town in Lithuania.

Early Life and Education

In 1952, Garastas completed his secondary education at a gymnasium, and in 1959, he graduated from the Lithuanian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. In 2004, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in science from the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education.

Basketball Career

From 1952 to 1960, Garastas played for the "Zalgiris" team. In 1956, he began combining his basketball career with coaching. He became one of the leading basketball coaches in the 1960s, responsible for selecting the best basketball players for the national team and guiding their careers. In the mid-1960s, Garastas held the position of Chairman of the Sports Committee of Lithuania.

Formation of Own Team

Between 1971 and 1978, Garastas focused on talent scouting and the selection of promising children who were later placed in sports schools. During this period, he also formed his own team. From 1979 to 1989, he served as the head coach of the "Zalgiris" team, leading the Lithuanian basketball players to phenomenal results. The team won the gold medals in the USSR Championship from 1985 to 1987 and achieved success in various European tournaments.

International Coaching

From 1989 to 1991, Garastas was the head coach of the Soviet national basketball team. From 1992 to 1997, he held the position of head coach for the Lithuanian national basketball team. He led his team to the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and prepared his athletes for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Later Career and Controversy

Starting in 1999, Garastas served as the vice-president of the basketball team "Alithia." In 2000, he was appointed as a consultant for the Lithuanian women's basketball team and became the president of the Lithuanian Basketball Association. Since 2003, Garastas has held the position of president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.

In October 2008, Garastas faced accusations of making racially offensive remarks.