Dusty Garza
After six years with the San Antonio Spurs, Darius Songaila has mutually parted ways and is now seeking new opportunities to advance his career. The former Lithuanian national team star has been speaking to various portals about taking over Lithuania’s national team as its new head coach.
Darius Songaila confirmed that his tenure with the Spurs, where has been working since 2018, has come to an end after speaking with coach Gregg Popovich.
“We reached the end of the road, and it was time to change the situation, as I had no opportunities to move up,” Songaila said. “I no longer wanted to just sit on the second assistant bench. The first ‘Spurs’ bench assistants all have four-year contracts, so I had no chance to advance. We talked about this with Pop (Gregg Popovich), and he said it would be better for me to change something, as there would be no room to advance with this team. We decided together that I would leave.”
Having spent years playing in the NBA before becoming a coach, Songaila had never worked in any city in the United States for so long. He had stints for two years in Sacramento and three in Washington, plus he spent one season in each of the franchises in Chicago, New Orleans, and Philadelphia.
“San Antonio had become my second home. This was my first coaching career stop abroad. I learned a lot in the ‘Spurs’ organization and went through all the phases. Of course, it’s painful to leave this club, but I reached the end of the road since I had been in the same position for three years and didn’t want to remain there without a chance to move up.”
Songalia has reportedly already received a couple of offers to stay in the NBA, and there are rumors about him taking over the head coach position of the Lithuanian national team, which has recently become vacant.
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