Pottsville native Nick Schlitzer is leaving his assistant coaching position with Pallacanestro Trieste of Italy’s Serie A2 after three seasons to join the coaching staff of the Kaohsiung Aquas, a professional team in Taiwan’s TPBL, the Italian club announced this week.
Schlitzer joined Trieste in July 2023 as the club’s “Player Development Coach,” working one-on-one with players on shooting and fundamentals. He served under three different head coaches during his tenure – Jamion Christian, then Israel Gonzalez, then Francesco Taccetti – staying on through each staff change.
Before coaching, Schlitzer played college basketball at Jefferson (formerly Thomas Jefferson/Philadelphia University), where he won an NCAA Division II national title, then continued his playing career in Europe. Schlitzer graduated from Pottsville Area in 2011.
In its release, Trieste credited Schlitzer with a significant behind-the-scenes role in the team’s on-court improvement over the past three years. General Manager Michael Arcieri said in a statement:
“From our very first day in July, 2023, Nick has been an unsung hero of Pallacanestro Trieste. He never missed a day, never one workout or individual session. He’s as patient and talented as he is respected. His ability to create bonds, to instill confidence and to develop skills was evident across three seasons and absolutely critical to our success during this time. His humility and passion for his craft are inspiring. It will be very difficult to replace Coach Schlitzer!”
The club also noted that players frequently asked for Schlitzer by name during individual workouts, a detail Trieste pointed to as evidence of the bond he built with the roster.
Schlitzer’s new team, the Kaohsiung Aquas, competes in the TPBL, Taiwan’s top professional men’s basketball league. League play generally begins in November.
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