Thorsten Leibenath
Encyclopedia
Thorsten Leibenath is a German
basketball coach and basketball player. He is the current head coach for ratiopharm Ulm
in the German Basketball Bundesliga
.
Leibenath began his coaching career at TV Lich, a second-division team in Germany. With TV Lich, Leibenath won the championship, promoting the club to the first division. After his stint with TV Lich, Leibenath moved to Gießen 46ers where he worked as an assistant coach for six seasons.
During the 2006-07 season
the German was head coach of the Scottish Rocks
in the British Basketball League
. At the end of his first season in British basketball, Leibenath reached the BBL Cup
final, eventually losing to Guildford Heat
82-79, while also finishing 4th in the League Championship, and lead the Rocks to the BBL Playoff final, losing eventually to Newcastle Eagles
. He also picked up the BBL Coach of the Month award for March 2007.
In 2008, Leibenath returned to Germany, taking over as head coach of Artland Dragons
basketball team. While playing in the EuroCup and the EuroChallenge in the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 season, the club only ranked 9th in the regular season in both years, missing the Basketball Bundesliga
play-offs. In May 2010, team management decided to release Leibenath who moved to GiroLive-Ballers Osnabrück in the German Pro-A league (lower division).
In 2011, Leibenath signed as head coach with ratiopharm Ulm
in the German Basketball Bundesliga
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
basketball coach and basketball player. He is the current head coach for ratiopharm Ulm
Ratiopharm Ulm
-Notable players: Christian Ast 3 seasons: '96-'99 Konrad Wysocki 3 seasons: '06-'08 Olivier Bourgain 2 seasons: '99-'01 Jeff Kent 1 season: '00-'01 Alon Stein 1 season: '02-'03 Kyle Bailey 1 season: '07-'08 Jeff Gibbs 4 seasons: '05-'09 Abdul Shamsid-Deen 1 season: '99-'00 Romeo Travis 1 season:...
in the German Basketball Bundesliga
Basketball Bundesliga
The Basketball Bundesliga — commonly abbreviated BBL — is the highest level league of club basketball in Germany. The league comprises 18 teams. A BBL season is split into a league stage and a playoff stage...
.
Leibenath began his coaching career at TV Lich, a second-division team in Germany. With TV Lich, Leibenath won the championship, promoting the club to the first division. After his stint with TV Lich, Leibenath moved to Gießen 46ers where he worked as an assistant coach for six seasons.
During the 2006-07 season
British Basketball League 2006-07
The 2006-07 season, the 20th since its establishment of the British Basketball League, started on September 29, 2006 when reigning champions Newcastle Eagles began with a 85-83 loss away to Sheffield Sharks....
the German was head coach of the Scottish Rocks
Scottish Rocks
The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...
in the British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
. At the end of his first season in British basketball, Leibenath reached the BBL Cup
BBL Cup
The BBL Cup is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the British Basketball League during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy...
final, eventually losing to Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat is a basketball club based in Guildford, England that currently play in the British Basketball League. Heat play their home games at the brand-new Surrey Sports Park and was formed in 2005 by fans of former BBL franchise Thames Valley Tigers, who folded during the same year...
82-79, while also finishing 4th in the League Championship, and lead the Rocks to the BBL Playoff final, losing eventually to Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...
. He also picked up the BBL Coach of the Month award for March 2007.
In 2008, Leibenath returned to Germany, taking over as head coach of Artland Dragons
Artland Dragons
Artland Dragons is a basketball club based in Quakenbrück, Germany that plays in the Basketball Bundesliga. Their home arena is Artland Arena, which has room for 3000 spectators.-History:...
basketball team. While playing in the EuroCup and the EuroChallenge in the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 season, the club only ranked 9th in the regular season in both years, missing the Basketball Bundesliga
Basketball Bundesliga
The Basketball Bundesliga — commonly abbreviated BBL — is the highest level league of club basketball in Germany. The league comprises 18 teams. A BBL season is split into a league stage and a playoff stage...
play-offs. In May 2010, team management decided to release Leibenath who moved to GiroLive-Ballers Osnabrück in the German Pro-A league (lower division).
In 2011, Leibenath signed as head coach with ratiopharm Ulm
Ratiopharm Ulm
-Notable players: Christian Ast 3 seasons: '96-'99 Konrad Wysocki 3 seasons: '06-'08 Olivier Bourgain 2 seasons: '99-'01 Jeff Kent 1 season: '00-'01 Alon Stein 1 season: '02-'03 Kyle Bailey 1 season: '07-'08 Jeff Gibbs 4 seasons: '05-'09 Abdul Shamsid-Deen 1 season: '99-'00 Romeo Travis 1 season:...
in the German Basketball Bundesliga
Basketball Bundesliga
The Basketball Bundesliga — commonly abbreviated BBL — is the highest level league of club basketball in Germany. The league comprises 18 teams. A BBL season is split into a league stage and a playoff stage...
.