Rolandas Skaisgirys was elected president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation after securing a majority of 153 votes to succeed Mindaugas Balciunas. The leadership change comes alongside Dainius Adomaitis taking over as national team head coach, with Lithuania fighting to qualify for the FIBA World Cup.

On Wednesday, Rolandas Skaisgirys was elected as the new President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LTU Basketball).

Skaisgirys’ term will last until the end of September 2028. He will replace Mindaugas Balciunas, who stepped down in September following public backlash.

The 57-year-old Skaisgirys beat the current FIBA Europe board member Darius Gudelis after receiving a majority of 153 votes.

There were 155 eligible voters, but the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), as a federation member, abstained. Another ballot was spoiled.

Initially, the current LKL President Remigijus Milasius and Lithuania’s 2nd-tier NKL President Gediminas Kvietkauskas were also in the running for LTU Basketball President, but both withdrew their candidacies before the election.

This will be Skaisgirys’ first term as LTU Basketball President.

Who is Rolandas Skaisgirys?

Skaisgirys is a former basketball player who spent nearly 20 years representing various Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) teams.

He founded the 3×3 Basketball Association in Lithuania, which won an Olympic medal at the 2024 Olympics.

Credit Domas Urbonas

Skaisgirys is also a shareholder of Kibirkstis Vilnius, the women’s basketball club that made its return to the Women’s EuroLeague after a 12-year absence.

In recent years, Skaisgirys served as head of youth and children’s basketball development, organized the international youth basketball tournament Buzelis CUP, and coached young basketball players himself.

Balciunas replaced after multiple controversies

Balciunas announced his resignation on September 11, citing the need to calm public emotions.

The decision follows mounting turmoil. The federation has faced heavy backlash over the men’s national team’s poor performance in the FIBA 2027 World Cup Qualifiers, as well as FIBA’s five-year suspension of former women’s national team head coach Rimantas Grigas after the organization failed to punish him for suspected inappropriate sexual behavior towards players.

Dainius Adomaitis named new Lithuania’s head coach

On September 30, Lithuania has also appointed Dainius Adomaitis as a new head coach ahead of the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Adomaitis replaced Rimas Kurtinaitis, who stepped down following the last qualifying window in early September, when former LTU Basketball president Balciunas also resigned. 

Adomaitis previously coached the Lithuanian national team from 2017 to 2019. He resigned after Lithuania was eliminated by France in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup quarterfinal.

Credit Teodoras Biliūnas/BNS

In the 2017 EuroBasket, Lithuania finished 9th after losing in the Round of 16 to Greece.

Adomaitis’ most recent gig was with Alvark Tokyo, where he worked from 2022 to 2026. In 2026, Adomaitis guided Alvark to their first Emperor’s Cup win since 2012.

Adomaitis also led the Japanese powerhouse to the B.League Championship Playoffs in all four seasons, posting three 2nd-place finishes (2023, 2024, 2025) and one 4th-place finish (2026) in the Eastern District in the regular season.

Lithuania in danger of missing FIBA World Cup

Lithuania has not failed to qualify for the FIBA World Cup since 2002, yet that possibility is very real.

Lithuania sit fourth in Group J at 4-4, behind Turkiye (8-0), Serbia (6-2) and Italy (5-3).

The August window produced a damaging 94-66 defeat against Turkiye before Lithuania recovered to beat Bosnia 78-73.

The problem is that Lithuania has no head-to-head advantage over Italy and won’t face them again – their results against Italy carried over from the first round.

Instead, they need to gain ground while navigating games against teams from the other qualifying group.

November window will start with the matchup against Serbia in Lithuania, followed by a potentially vicious road game against Bosnia.

Lithuania’s situation in Group J:

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