Riga, Latvia – A new era is dawning for Latvian men’s basketball. Jānis Gailītis has been officially appointed as the head coach of the Latvian national team, replacing Sito Alonso, the Latvian Basketball Federation (LBF) announced on March 24, 2026. The change comes after a challenging start to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification campaign, and marks a return to a domestic coach leading the national program.
The decision to part ways with Alonso was reached by mutual agreement, according to the LBF. Alonso, a Spanish national, had been at the helm for just four games, securing only one victory. The team currently sits in a difficult position within Group F of the World Cup qualifying tournament, with a 1-3 record after four rounds. Poland leads the group with four wins, followed by the Netherlands with two, while Latvia and Austria each have one victory.
Gailītis, 40, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as an assistant coach under Lukas Banki and currently leading French club Strasbourg. He is no stranger to success within Latvian basketball, having guided VEF Rīga to a record seven Latvian championships, a Latvian-Estonian League title, and three Latvian Basketball Užavas Cups during his tenure as head coach from 2016 to 2024. He also boasts a silver medal from the 2014 European U16 Championship while coaching Latvia’s U16 team, and served as an assistant coach for the senior national team from 2021-2025.
“Becoming the head coach of the Latvian national team is a high recognition of my work, an honor, and a responsibility,” Gailītis stated, as reported by the LBF. “In recent years, we have built a winning team together. The players always approached their duties with passion, perseverance, and responsibility while wearing the national team jersey. Together, we will discover ways to continue the team’s development in these new challenging circumstances.”
Alonso, speaking after the change, expressed his pleasure with his time coaching the Latvian national team and characterized Gailītis’s appointment as a positive step. “I reckon What we have is the best solution for both sides,” Alonso said, according to Sportazinas.com. “The Latvian national team will now be led by a top-level coach [Jānis Gailītis]. I think that’s exactly what is needed right now. I am glad I was able to be there – the attitude from the federation and the players was excellent.”
Alonso acknowledged the difficulties he faced in assembling a full-strength roster during his brief tenure, noting that he was pleased to have Kristaps Zoriks and Artūrs Strautiņš available for the second qualifying window, though it wasn’t enough to significantly improve the team’s results. He also emphasized the importance of allowing a coach sufficient time to build a team identity, stating that it can be difficult for players to perform without that foundation.
The coaching change comes at a critical juncture in the World Cup qualifying process. Latvia’s next challenges are scheduled for this summer, with an away game against the Netherlands on July 3rd and a home game against Austria on July 6th. These matches will be crucial as the team attempts to improve its standing in Group F and secure a spot in the next phase of qualification.
LBF President Raimonds Vējonis emphasized the demand for a forward-looking approach. “We cannot change the past, but the LBS management, as the supervisory body of the national team’s work, has a duty to make the best decision for the future – both near and far,” Vējonis stated, as reported by sportacentrs.com. “The national team’s current goal remains unchanged – to gather the best available lineup in each training camp and fight for victory in every game.”
Vējonis also highlighted the importance of developing a pipeline of young talent to ensure the long-term success of Latvian basketball. The LBF aims to integrate promising young players into the national team program, maximizing the country’s basketball potential in future international competitions.
The appointment of Jānis Gailītis signals a clear commitment to prioritizing Latvian basketball expertise and building a sustainable path forward for the national team. While the challenges ahead are significant, the LBF and the Latvian basketball community are hopeful that Gailītis can lead the team to success in the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches and beyond.
Latvia will need to demonstrate significant improvement in their upcoming matches to remain competitive in the World Cup qualification process. The team’s performance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike as they navigate a challenging group and strive to secure a place in the prestigious tournament.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the Latvian national team is their away game against the Netherlands on July 3rd, 2026. Fans can stay updated on the team’s progress and schedule through the official website of the Latvian Basketball Federation: latvijav.basket.lv.
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