Gouttiere, An Academician and Formerly Head Coach for Afghan National Basketball Team

Thomas E. Gouttierre, Dean of International Studies and Programs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the Director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at UNO gave a presentation about the history of the region, Afghanistan’s ethnic diversity and post 9/11 democratization. Gottierre also discussed his relationship with prominent Afghan figures Ahmad Shah Massoud and Hamid Karzai.
But Gouttierre is respected amongst others, for his efforts in promoting basketball in a peaceful democratic new Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, Gouttierre served as a Peace Corps Volunteer, a Fulbright Fellow, and Executive Director of the Fulbright Foundation. Throughout his time though, he coached the Afghan National Basketball Team for Men.
He is fluent  in Afghan Persian (Dari), Iranian Persian (Farsi), and Tajiki Persian (Tajiki); he has also studied Arabic, French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. His publications include numerous articles about Afghanistan society, culture, and politics; a co-authored, two-volume language textbook (Dari for Foreigners); original Dari poetry; translations of Persian poetry; and a variety of magazine and newspaper articles concerned with other international topics. A true basketball treasure to hold!