Mykolas Ruzgys
Mykolas Ruzgys, also known as Michael Paul Ruzgis (January 15, 1915 – December 15, 1986), was a Lithuanian‑American basketball player and coach. Born in Chicago, he moved to Lithuania around 1938 and joined a Lithuanian team. He helped Lithuania win the EuroBasket 1939 in Kaunas, finishing fifth in scoring and earning the tournament’s MVP award.
When World War II began, Ruzgys left Lithuania with his wife Danutė. Their daughter Lidija was born in 1940, just after he left. He arrived in New York in August 1940. He joined the U.S. Army in 1942, served in Europe, and helped liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp. He earned the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, staying in the Army until February 1946.
After the war, Ruzgys settled in France, where he coached the France men’s national basketball team (1946–1947) and taught at INSEP. He later moved to Spain, coaching the Spain national team at the 1950 FIBA World Championship in Buenos Aires and working with clubs such as Bazán Ferrol. He also published a basketball book and spent time in Madrid and Monaco before returning to the United States in 1956.
Back in the United States, Ruzgys remained active in Lithuanian‑American basketball circles. His daughter Lidija became a Deaflympics competitor, winning medals in 1957 and 1965. Mykolas Ruzgys died in Chicago on December 15, 1986.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 23:05 (CET).