Hoops

Geelong SEABL Womens coach sacked!

Let Geelong play and let O'Brien look on to bigger and better things.

But in relation to those comments "inapporiate behaviour" the people who matter in this sport and his life wont have the massive question marks when it comes to O'Brien intergrity they know who he is and what he stands for. Its the people who are sitting back and snipping from the stands that are making ridiculous claims that need to have a good look at themselves.

I wonder if our good folk at Knox are sitting back reading this thread and thinking, 'at least not us for once'?

Nope my daughter's are 18, 10 and 7 and do not play ball for Geelong. I've just coached women's sport for 26 years and know that it's not just what your communicating about but how you communicate it. Just because you have a justified reason to cuss a player out doesn't mean it's necessary to do so. Growing up as you say, means standing up for what you believe is right not taking it because that's the way it is. It doesn't have to be that way. And I'm not saying a coach shouldn't yell. But the yelling should be in disappointment not anger and his players should be able to know the difference by what the coach says when yelling.

I didn't say they were kids..but they are someones daughter..My question was what would you advise your daughter to do? speak up? quit? or take it? Not like these are all 30 year old married women mate.

Michael its seniors mate not VJBL or domestic ...(even then parents should butt out), if you want to play with the big kids grow a thinker skin, honestly this is what is wrong here,they are not KIDS.

I think it's funny that whether they complained or walked away some of you would have had the same opinion about them. That they some how deserve to be abused because it's senior basketball and that they are soft for speaking up. What do you want your kid to do? speak up? quit? or take it? Seems to me if a majority loved him they would take a stand wouldn't they? Haven't heard a peep yet.

think some of the Geelong players needed to grow up this is a seniors league, it is not run on crt time but on ability to make use of the crt time your given, in any job unfortunately the boss has to be listened to and you do the job your instructed to do, if you don't like it there's the door. That's what is wrong with today's world, everyone things that the world owes them, instead of being accountable for them selves and respecting those who are leading them. Again if those players didn't like it go else where, only a couple of those Geelong players are what you would call high calibre players, Williamson is NOT one and if she has been the cause then she needs a reality check.

Sitting behind the bench at most home games it was more than evenient the yelling was because players persisted in most cases to go against the game plan and act as inderviduals. They soon forget all the postive praise they were given to instead harp on the negative.
Ive been witness to absolute personal sprays on players character in stadiums of thousands over the years but to O'Briens defensive his critisim of player was always "why did go away from the game plan".
Just because a coach is vocal on the sidelines maybe actually listen to what he is saying before you think its all negative.

Sport or not that is a workplace situation. and how you speak to people matters.. to think it's okay just because your a coach you can speak to players in a mannor that they feel is not respectful and they have to take it is old fashioned and unacceptable now in any workplace. Not to mention they are female athletes not male and the common mistake is thinking you can treat them the same. As for getting rid of the players instead of the coach... You don't sacrifice the many for the few. Just because athletes are privilaged and paid does not mean they don't deserve basic respect.

They were possibly the most prepared team in the league and those training sessions that went over Im more than certain you could count them on one hand.
At the end the day if your part of a leadership group voice your concerns firstly to your coach not the board. Other coaches in the league will have long memory of not only a players ability but the way they deal with on court issues.

Enjoy some time off with your fiancé O'Brien,
wont be too long before clubs come knocking.

Beth im pretty sure if the players wernt happy with their coach they wouldnt have signed contracts to play under him this year.

Cracks wont show until it comes to resigning that will be evident who stays and who goes.

By now the league knows why O'brien was sacked so I can only imagine the supercat point guard will recieve a bit more attention from her opposition now.

Beth since when is a playing group consulted on the coaching staff, I always thought a coach chose their team, if that's the case then its surely brat type of behaviour from one or more players as they havent got their way. As for the guard Williamson, she was very good as a junior but shes just to darn small to compete in the SEABL league these days with the size they bring in. She struggled to contain rangers guard todhunter in the first quarter so was subbed off, then put back on when todhunter was sidelined due to foul trouble from Duck, Dandenongs youngest player Sat night was subbed on in todhunters place so Obrien took that opportunity to put Williamson back on,the youngster not only killed her up and down the crt and was head and shoulder above her in height, she then took her on one on one and left her standing in her own dust, coach O'brien was quick to sub her off after that. I'm a huge supercats fan and think Obrien has done wonders for the whole women's program, but I think they have made the wrong choice here if its been player or coach go.

I was at that geelong dandenong game, supercats were lucky to come away with that win if you look at the stats, rangers just had a really bad shooting night, but the rings at the arena are very unforgiving both men and women's teams found the same issue, cant see the same thing happening on the rangers home turf so they would want to hope the new coaching group can fix what they must think isn't working.

“However we are of the belief that Paul is not the right person to lead the McDonald’s Geelong Supercats SEABL women and that the best course of action for the club and the players was to move forward with a new head coach.”

If the club didn't think he was right person for the job careful consideration would have actually been not renewing his contract at the end of last season.
This could have saved the O'Brien alot of time and effort he put in over Pre Season but im sure they can now benefit from his careful fowarded planning and recruiting.

Part of the reason the Lady Supercats merged was because it was a requirement from the SEABL that you needed to have Men's and Woman's. Hence when Dandenong and Sandringham re entered the league the woman's team went across swell.

I would be surprised if the lady cats get any funding from its Junior program as it was a massive objective from the Coach that it was self sufficient. Hence all the work he did with gaining sponsors and building a sustainable woman's program. Any Association would be lucky to have a Coach put the extra time in building sustainability off the floor.
Small memories lets sack him on a knee jerk reaction without mediation!!

The Shadows will appear sooner than you may think!
Mycroft

I think sometimes people forget SEABL is a senior professional competition and for a players to grow and get to the next level they need to learn
you need a coach that pushes you because at the end of the day that person is investing time into making you better.
Goodluck Paul O'Brien im sure you won’t find it hard to pick up another coaching position with your long list of credentials.
Thank you for all you did for The Lady Geelong Supercats couldn’t have been a easy job the last 3 years - introducing a team Into the SEABL, setting up a competitive program and giving opportunities to a lot of players who may not be where they are today without your help and guidance.
As a Geelong supporter im disappointed we couldn’t give you a send off you fully deserved but time will tell who will be the winner out of this decision.
The program and principles you developed will forever be a legacy in Geelong and I hope this club and players never forget that.
Thank you again.

Saying something wouldnt have been cheap doesnt mean someone is jealous just pointing out a observation.

Williamson being made a scapegoat for being the captain and taking the entire playing groups concerns to the board.

Possibly cant afford to pay a coach after decking out their whole stadium. Was there on the weekend cant say that would have been a cheap exercise.

Seeing that he recruited the whole playing group
why would they need to be consulted?
They obvisouly wanted to play for him or they wouldnt have moved from other programs to join his.

This is not the forum to questions people character. Neither individual.

Im sure all individuals knowing what they both know now, may go about this situation very differently.

To say the CEO has done the right thing here though is laughable and Beth you are close to the inner sanctum but to believe that this decision was the right one to make without any sort of mediation is crazy. Peoples reputations and well being at stake and not taken into consideration.

The way I read it the sacked coach has conducted himself with class! stated it came as a surprise and he had always his players welfare at mind!

Its disappointing to read all the above, that players have so much to say on there Coaches futures. Especially when it can be argued that coaches give player opportunities.

Questions need to be asked how well did the club try and mediate tension between Coach and Player(s). Given that the CEO is making bold decisions on there branding it would appear he has pulled the trigger early. You only need to look at the facts and past performances, the best predictor of future behaviour is passed behaviour.

Paul O'Brien is renowned for doing the upmost for his playing group and ensuring there treated as elite athletes. Providing living, academic and employment arrangements to ensure they can perform to there best level. Its fair to say he has gone above and beyond the responsibilities of the role of a Head Coach.

I would be shocked to hear that the player is Courtney Williams given the support that he has given to her. Especially given he could of recruited a WNBL Calibre point guard and a proven performer at that level who recently moved back to the area. This was never an option due to his commitment to the current guard rotation.

Who extends a coaches contract then within 3 months, then terminates based on the grounds “However we are of the belief that Paul is not the right person to lead the McDonald’s Geelong Supercats SEABL women and that the best course of action for the club and the players was to move forward with a new head coach.” Dean Anglin can you please explain why you extended his contract to then terminate and appoint a coach with no experience in the female game! The player or the players must be taking a pay cut to pay a new coach as they now need to pay a coach out!

Dean Anglin clearly has a lot of experience in management due to working at Geelong broadcasters. Im not sure the extent of his experience in Sport or Basketball, I can't find it on his Linkedin: http://au.linkedin.com/pub/dean-anglin/33/45b/687

Although there appears to be extensive time spent in Wodonga, maybe he experienced Coach and player management there. As my brother says, Its elementary.

The wash up will certainly be, that the Lady Supercats have made a knee jerk reaction in relation to the decision.

I hope when the dust settles that those responsible are going to be accountable for there actions but as usual, people don't consider others only themselves.

The Shadows will appear sooner than you may think!
Mycroft

If you are referring to Courtney's history let me just say, she is a quality young individual.

The coach on the other hand, well lets just say his history has had some issues in terms of dividing teams....

I will support Beth in what she has posted, Dean has a tough job and in my opinion has done it as well as he possibly could. History will show that the Geelong Basketball Association has undergone many changes recently, and appears to be heading in the right direction.

The new CEO is maybe trying to clean up a few things down at Geelong.

O'Brien had a few in his pocket in major decision making roles at the club which obviously don't have as much say anymore in order to get the job in the first place.

Heard Courtney was reluctant to remain with the club and had been approached by rival clubs in the off season as she was fed up with the coach.

The replacement is only interim for the remainder of the year.

More to coaching then X's & O's, this is a good move by the club as the writing had been on the wall for quite a while.

Dissapointing!!!
A player putting herself before the team.
Lets hope she has a stand out season under
a new coach if thats the case.

The reason - A player revolt yes... It will be interesting to watch how the the Lady Supercats perform now, looking at the clubs record in the SEABL maybe "negative" and "long trainings" helped some of their on court success.
Good on you O'Brien for letting people know why the club has actually made this decision 3 games into a season because Basketball Geelongs Statement left alot of people asking questions.

Geelong Advertiser
MEAGAN ROOTH
TUESDAY APRIL 1 2014

SACKED Lady Supercats
coach Paul O’Brien has
slammed Basketball Geelong’s
handling of his sudden dismissal,
just three games into
the SEABL season.
O’Brien, who has guided
the women’s outfit since 2011,
had his two-year contract terminated
on Sunday, effective
immediately.
The club has appointed former
Supercats player Bruce
Hultgren as interim coach.
“What disappoints me more
was the way in which the process
was handled,” O’Brien
said yesterday.
“The total lack of regard for
my welfare was significant and
most disappointing.”
Basketball Geelong chief
executive Dean Anglin said an
in-house meeting took place
last Monday and again on Sunday
before O’Brien was informed
of the decision.
Anglin declined to reveal
the exact nature of the forced
departure.
However, O’Brien said
player welfare was a major
theme of the talks on Sunday.
The baffled coach was told
he was too negative and his
training sessions went for too
long, among other concerns.
But O’Brien said he had always
put the personal and
health needs of players first,
also helping with entry to tertiary
study and sourcing financial
support.
“My pastoral care for the
needs of my players was well
known,” he said.
O’Brien has also been dealing
with difficult private family
matters this year, which Basketball
Geelong was aware of.
“The irony of ‘player welfare’
was not lost on me at
times during the meeting,” he
said.
O’Brien was three games
into his third season at the
helm of the Lady Supercats,
with two wins and one loss on
the board. He took the team to
a conference grand final in
2012, playoffs in 2013 and was
responsible for recruiting most
of the current roster.
“I am very proud of the
achievements of this group
and the players who have preceded
them,” he said. “The future
looks very bright for
Geelong women’s basketball.”
Anglin said after “thoughtful
consideration” O’Brien was
not the “right person” to lead
the Lady Supercats.
“The club understands this
decision may come as surprise
to some given the team’s oncourt
success,” he said.
“But we simply believe this
is the right decision for the future
and have made a conscientious
decision to move
on.”

Not surprising really, coaching behavior has been a concern for a while now.

Player revolt is what I am hearing.