Liberty has announced the addition of Stelios Tzoutzis to the men’s basketball staff. He will assume the role of assistant coach/general manager for the Flames.
“I’ve had a long history with Stelios, dating back to when he was a GA for us in our first season at Liberty,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay in a school release. “Since then, his experience and reputation in the profession have grown immensely. Stelios serves in an assistant coaching role where he will be able to benefit from his international relationships. He will also be our general manager, a role in which he will be the liaison between our players and their representatives as well as our administration.”
Tzoutzis comes to Liberty after spending the previous five years at Virginia, first serving as a graduate assistant for two seasons before being promoted to program and operations assistant in Sept. 2024. A native of Athens, Greece, Tzoutzis served as a graduate assistant at Liberty for one season prior to his time at Virginia. He was the primary film coordinator while pursuing a master’s degree in sports management, which he earned in 2016.
“It’s an incredible honor to be back at Liberty,” said Tzoutzis in a release. “This program shaped me in so many ways as a graduate assistant, and to now return as an assistant coach feels like coming home. I’m especially grateful to Coach McKay for his belief in me and for the culture he’s built here, one that’s centered on excellence, growth and genuine care for each person. I’m excited for the opportunity to pour into the players and help carry forward the mission of Liberty Basketball.”
Tzoutzis grew up in Greece. In 2004, he came to Lynchburg where he played at Virginia Episcopal School (VES). He continued his playing career in college for Rend Lake (Illinois) and Mansfield (Pennsylvania). After college, he returned to VES as an assistant coach where he helped the team win its first state championship in school history.
Tzoutzis takes a spot in the Liberty staff vacated by former assistant Joe Pierre III who was recently hired at Furman. Pierre had spent seven seasons at Liberty. The Flames’ men’s basketball staff, which Tzoutzis now joins, also includes Associate Head Coach Derek Johnston as well as assistant coaches Zach Farquhar and Stephen Burggraf, each of whom played for Liberty under McKay.
Photo courtesy Liberty Athletics
