Alexandru Radu

alexandru-radu

Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching Basketball and Course Leader for Sport Development and Coaching BA (Hons)

School of Sport and Exercise Science

Academics

Contact Details

email: a.radu@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 855264

Alexandru Radu joined the School of Sport and Exercise Science in May 2010 after lecturing at Northumbria University, where he gained an MSc in Sport Management UK/European and the APT Award (Applauding and Promoting Teaching Award). As well as teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, Alex is actively involved in coaching basketball – Romania Women National Team, Romania U20 Women National Team, Worcester Wolves (BBL) men team, Cardiff Archers (WBBL) women team and Wales U18 Men's National Team are amongst some of the teams he coached (as either Head Coach or Assistant Coach).

The books Basketball Coaching - Putting Theory into Practice (2015); The Science of Basketball (2018) and Basketball: Skills, Drills and Session Plans (Technical Drills for Competitive Training) (2023) are three of his key publications.

Qualifications:

  • MSc Sport Management UK/European – Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK (2003-2005)
  • Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication – “Al.I. Cuza” University, Iasi, Romania (1997-2001)
  • Degree in Physical Education and Sports – “Al.I. Cuza” University, Iasi, Romania (1993-1997)
  • England Basketball Level 3 Coach Award
  • Romanian Senior Basketball Coach

Alex is also a qualified Level 2 Table Official and a Basketball Referee (England Basketball).

Teaching & Research

Alex contributes to the following University-wide committees:

  • Member of the International Advisory Group (jointly responsible for facilitating international exchanges for both staff and students and helping with international recruitment)
  • Member of the Recruitment Action Group
  • Link Tutor for the partnership between University of Worcester and Lithuanian Sports University (from Kaunas, Lithuania)

Teaching Interests:  

  • Sports Coaching
  • Sport Management
  • Sport Development and Coaching

Alex currently teaches various modules, including:

  • Intro to Sports Industry (Yr. 1 students)
  • Principles of Sports Coaching (Yr. 1 students)
  • Sport Event Operations (Yr. 2 students)
  • Management and Leadership in Sport (Yr. 2 students)
  • International Development and Volunteering (Yr. 3 students)

Research Interests:  

  • Sports Event Management
  • Olympism and the Olympic movement
  • Sport and mass media
  • Basketball coaching and coach development

Recent Projects: 

  • Erasmus scholarships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 – teaching Sports Management and coaching basketball at Lithuanian Sports University from Kaunas (Lithuania)
  • Coaching basketball at various basketball camps in three different countries (Lithuania, Romania and England)

Professional Bodies

  • England Basketball
  • Romanian National School of Coaches (Moldova Region - Basketball)
  • Basketball Wales

Publications

Books:

Radu, A. (2023) Basketball: Skills, Drills and Session Plans (Technical Drills for Competitive Training). Crowood Press: Malborough, UK.

Radu, A. (2018) The Science of Basketball, Routledge: London, UK.

Radu, A. (2015) Basketball Coaching. Putting Theory into Practice. Bloomsbury: London, UK.

Radu, A. and Abalasei, B. (2012) English-Romanian Dictionary (Sport section). Bucharest Litera Printing Press.

Radu, A. (2010) Basketball. A Guide to Skills, Techniques and Tactics. Crowood Press, Marlborough, UK.

Radu, A. and Stirbu, C. (2001) Streetball Simple, Efficient and Funny. Venus Publishing House, Iasi, Romania.

Chapters, journal articles, papers, conference and other presentations:

Radu, A. (co-author) (2023) Chapter 3. Selection of Young Players. Co-authored chapter in Moanta, A. and Berceanu, D. (eds) (2023) The Unitary Concept of Play and Preparation for Various Formative Levels. Romanian Basketball Federation and Discobolul Printing Press: Bucharest, Romania.

Radu, A. (2023) The Impact of Management on Performance of Sport. Online webinar for the Commission for the Development of Coaches (part of Romanian Athletics Federation).

Gobikas, M., Radu, A. and Miklovas, J. (2020) Home Court Advantage in Basketball – A Case Study of Zalgiris Kaunas Basketball Team. Athens Journal of Sports, Vol. 7, Issue 4, pp. 235-250.

Radu, A. (2018) Professional basketball and the links with University basketball – does this work? An overview of UK context.  Keynote Speaker Presentation delivered at The 4th International Conference of the UNIVERSITARIA Consortium – Iasi, Romania.

Stanway, B., Peters, D., Radu, A., Beeching, K. and Belsey, J. (2014) Winning Big United States of America in the 2012 London Olympics. Presented at the World Congress of Performance Analysis in Sport X, Croatia. 25-28th July.

Radu, A. (2009) An Evaluation of Olympism Activities of the Romanian Olympic Academy. Published in the volume titled XIII Olympic Congress Copenhagen 2009 Contributions, International Olympic Committee Lausanne, Switzerland.

Masterman, G., Radu, A. and Graney, N. (2009) Is There Sponsorship Fit? An Investigation of 2008 Shanghai Tennis Masters. Paper presented at ATINER 9th International Conference on Sports: Economic, Management, Marketing and Social Aspects, 8th - 11th May 2009, Athens, Greece.

Radu, A. and Radu, L. (2008) An Evaluation of Olympism Activities of Romanian Olympic Academy Iasi Branch. Poster presented at EASM (European Association of Sport Management) Conference in Heidelberg (Germany), 10-14th September 2008.

Partington, S., Allin, L. and Radu, A. (2008) Assessment Bottle Necks A Reality or a State of Mind? Probing the Perception Gap Between Students and Staff. Paper presented at Northumbria University Conference 2008, Newcastle. APT Award winning project.

Radu, A. and Radu, L. (2008) Info Guide Olympic Sports Contact Details. Booklet published at Demiurg Publishing House, Iasi, Romania.

Blakey, P.A., Bruce, C., Cook, P., Futre, D., Macfadyen, G., Porteous, J. and Radu, A. (2008) The Management of Sport SMEs: Whats the position? ATINER Conference, Athens, 11-14th August 2008.

Emery, P. and Radu, A. (2007) Conceptual Paper: An exploration of time and its management for sport event managers. Managing Leisure (Special Issue: Events and Festivals Current Trends and Issues), 12 (2/3), 204-222.

Radu, A. and Fishwick, L. (2007) Enquiring Minds: Integrating Study Skills into Directed Learning Tasks. Paper presented at Northumbria University Conference, Marriott Hotel, Newcastle. APT Award winning project.

Radu, A. and Emery, P. (2005) It's Now Time to Manage Time. Paper presented (and published in the Book of Abstracts) at the 13th Congress of the European Association for Sport Management, Gateshead, UK.

Radu, A. (2004) Enthusiasm for Belgium Children 2004 How to Increase Sport Participation Amongst Youngsters in Belgium. Runner-up presentation in the International Students Presentation Competition during the 12th European Student Seminar for Sport Management (Students Awards), EASM Conference Brussels, Belgium.

Radu, A. (1999) Sport and the Media in Romania, published in "Sport and Society" - Physical Education and Sports Review, Journal of Faculty of Physical Education, Iasi, Romania.

External Responsibilities

Current:

  • Assistant Coach of Romania U16 Women's National Team (2023 to present)
  • Tutor and Assessor for Level 1 and Level 2 Basketball England Coaching Awards
  • Head Coach of Worcester Wolves Academy U16 men National League team

Past:

  • Assistant Coach of Romania U20 and U18 Women's National Team (2018 to 2021)
  • Assistant Coach of Worcester Wolves professional basketball team that competes in British Basketball League (September 2010 to 2018)
  • Head Coach of University of Worcester Men's 2nd team (BUCS) / Assistant Coach of University of Worcester Men's 1st Team (September 2010 to 2018)
  • Wales Futures (U20 and U18) Men's National Team Head Coach (September 2016 to 2018)
  • Assistant Coach Romania Senior Women National Team (March 2014 to August 2015)
  • Assistant Coach Wales Senior Men's National Team (2015-2016 season)
  • Head Coach of Worcester Wolves Ladies' and Director of Women's Basketball programme at University of Worcester (between 2010-2011 and 2014-2015 seasons)

Other relevant activities:

  • Coach Presenter at Oxford Elite Basketball Coaching Clinic June 2023 (Oxford/ UK) and at Belgian Basketball Clinic 2018 (Duffel / Belgium)
  • Translator at International Basketball Coaching Clinic Klaipeda (Lithuania) in July 2011 (clinic organised by the Lithuanian Coaches Association)
  • Head Coach of Al. I. Cuza University of Iasi/Romania (between 1998-2001)