How Kentucky WBB assistant coach Radvile Autukaite's experiences as a player is making a difference

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Photo of Kentucky WBB assistant coach Radvile Autukaite by UK Athletics

As we all know, this season’s Wildcats are not the same as last year’s. Both the men’s and women’s programs have made severe changes to the entire program, including coaching staff. Kentucky Women’s Basketball’s head coach Kenny Brooks made no exception. In April, he brought on assistant coach Radvile Autukaite, a former national-level player from Lithuania.

This might be the first time in a few years Kentucky has had multiple non-American players on the team. Last season, there were zero, zilch, none. The year before that, the ‘Cats only had Adebola Adeyeye. Though she was born in Canada, the former Wildcat currently plays for Nigeria. You can catch her in the Olympics next week.

This year though, Kenny Brooks has recruited a plethora of players from all over the world. Two Australians (Georgia Amoore and Amelia Hassett), Canadian Tanah Becker, Clara Silva from Portugal, and Dominika Paurová from the Czech Republic. Overall, that makes five of the 13 players on the roster from outside the U.S..

In an interview with BBN Tonight on Wednesday, Coach Rad said that her experience playing in Lithuania brings a level of comfort to her foreign players in Lexington. Not only that, but her expertise in the sport gives her the knowledge to also comfort players’ families.

“In regards to my story,” Autukaite said. “I always tell them, listen, I’ve been through this. So, this is how we’re going to do paperwork… and they trust, which I think is huge.”

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It seems like Coach Rad is living up to her expectations. As an assistant coach, it’s important to support the team in any way you can – even if that means emotionally.

“I think definitely having that background, I have to use to our advantage here. Make sure that the families [are] comfortable,” Autukaite said.

Coach Rad’s experience is definitely valuable when it comes to coaching players far away from home. Hopefully, she can bring some level of comfort if our beloved Wildcats need it mid-season. Autukaite has spent the last seven years with Kenny Brooks, so clearly she’s doing something right.