BC Wolves Secure Historic BIDL Place for the 2026/27 Season

BC Wolves are proud to officially confirm that our senior men’s team will compete in the Basketball Ireland Development League (BIDL) during the 2026/27 season.

This is one of the most significant moments in the history of our club. BC Wolves will be the only team from Mid Ulster competing at national level, representing Cookstown, Dungannon and the wider Mid Ulster community on the national basketball stage.

A Historic Step for Basketball in Mid Ulster

Our entry into the BIDL represents much more than simply joining another competition. It is the next stage of a journey that has been built through years of hard work by our players, coaches, volunteers, families, supporters and community partners.

As a developing community club, we understand the scale of the challenge ahead. Competing nationally will require commitment, preparation and support both on and off the court. However, it also creates exciting new opportunities for our players and provides a pathway for young athletes who dream of progressing into senior national-level basketball.

Our ambition is not only to compete. We want to build a sustainable programme that will help strengthen basketball throughout Mid Ulster, inspire the next generation of players and bring the excitement of national basketball to our local community.

The hard work starts now—but we are ready for the challenge.

Introducing Our BIDL Coaching and Support Staff

Building a successful national programme requires much more than the players who step onto the court. It takes a committed team of coaches, medical staff, administrators and volunteers working together behind the scenes.

We are proud to introduce the staff who will lead and support the BC Wolves Men’s BIDL team during the 2026/27 season.

Head Coach – Rolandas Bartkus

Rolandas Bartkus will lead the team as Head Coach.

Having played a major role in the continued development of BC Wolves, Rolandas will now guide the club into this historic first BIDL season. His focus will be on establishing a strong team culture, developing every player and ensuring the team represents BC Wolves and Mid Ulster with pride.

Assistant Coach – Linas Lapukas

Linas Lapukas joins the BIDL coaching staff as an Assistant Coach.

Linas brings valuable playing and coaching experience to the programme. He will work closely with the Head Coach and players throughout the season, contributing to training, player development and game preparation.

Assistant Coach – Titas Černiauskas

Titas Černiauskas will also serve as an Assistant Coach for the new season.

Titas will be an important part of the coaching team, helping prepare the squad for the demands of national competition and supporting the continued development of the programme both on and off the court.

Head Physio – Mantas Venslovas

Mantas Venslovas, who holds a BSc in Sports Rehabilitation, joins the programme as Head Physio.

Player health and wellbeing will be a major priority throughout the season. Mantas will provide professional support in injury prevention, rehabilitation, recovery and physical preparation, helping our players remain healthy and ready to perform.

Team Manager – Jolanta Bartusevičienė

We are delighted to welcome Jolanta Bartusevičienė as Team Manager.

Jolanta brings a wealth of experience in community engagement, event organisation and administration. She will play a vital role in ensuring the team operates professionally throughout the season.

Her responsibilities will include supporting players and coaches, coordinating travel and communication, assisting with matchday operations and managing many of the important behind-the-scenes tasks required to run a national-level team.

Social Media Manager – Žygimantas Radzevičius

Žygimantas Radzevičius joins the programme as Social Media Manager.

He will be responsible for sharing the story of our BIDL journey, promoting fixtures and events, creating engaging content and helping our supporters follow the team throughout the season.

Strong media coverage will be essential as we work to grow our audience, promote our players, support our sponsors and showcase national-level basketball in Mid Ulster.

Creating the Best Environment for Our Players

As a club, we are committed to creating the best possible environment for our players to develop both on and off the court.

This is a huge step for basketball in Mid Ulster, and we want every player to feel supported throughout the season. Our staff will continue learning, developing and growing alongside the team as we take on this new challenge together.

Our aim is not only to compete at national level, but also to provide our players with the coaching, medical care, organisation and support they need to reach their potential.

A Team Representing the Entire Community

We want our BIDL team to become something the entire community can support and be proud of.

Our home games will bring national basketball to Cookstown and provide an opportunity for local families, young players, schools, businesses and supporters to experience an exciting matchday atmosphere close to home.

This achievement belongs to everyone who has contributed to the development of BC Wolves. We are extremely grateful to our players, parents, coaches, volunteers, supporters and community partners who have helped the club reach this stage.

We would also like to thank Basketball Ireland for accepting BC Wolves into the BIDL for the 2026/27 season.

More information about our playing squad, fixtures, home games, sponsors and matchday plans will be announced soon.