Hoops

New Australian Boomers Head Coach?

last time i saw shane heal he was tweaking off something in the melbourne casino... dude needs help

I don't have an NBL gig or a WNBL gig either so look out Shane you've got some competition. Hopefully they award the gig to one of us quickly before Dean Demopoulos becomes qualified for the job too.

Could Shane Heal be the right man for the job? Doesn't have a NBL gig so would be able to commit more time.

I would hope Lemanis will come back but if not would be happy with someone like Gaze taking over. Even though Bevo is probably the logical next choice after Lemanis his coaching style doesn't suit the game best suited to the Boomers so would prefer Gaze or even Joey Wright taking over if Lemanis isn't interested.

I wouldn't mind Gaze as an assistance, if only to watch his bewildered expressions at the refs.

Andrew Gaze is going well. The bloke has been building himself up since he retired coaching kids on friday nights, then onto big v and seabl. He's now in sydney and done a sterling job so far. Yes it is probably too early to see him become national coach but he's developing and is a name for the future for sure.

What we need is a coach who understands the Australian style of basketball and how to make that effective in the international game, and Lemanis obviously ticks those two boxes very well.

If he decides not to continue I would ask key players if they recommend any of the current assistants and also give Rob Beveridge the chance to present his case, as I think he fits the above criteria too.

Lemanis, please. Otherwise a good Euro coach.

Nobody has mentioned Longley. What are his credentials apart from helping Lemanis?

Gaze only has four NBL games under his belt. He is doing well but he hardly has the coaching experience to make him a candidate for a top job. I wouldn't mind him as an assistant, but let's be real here.

The best man for the job is Andrej Lemanis. They should exhaust that option to the fullest before looking at anyone else. We need a coach that understands Australian basketball. We don't need some American coach that will have us run some half court type game that doesn't play to our strengths.

ket,

i think he is a good coach and will become a great coach.

He has great understanding of the game, and worked hard to achieve what he achieved as a player. Cadee and the Kings have grown a leg this yr.

I've read all of the posts above.

A lot of people like saying Gaze can't coach, but nobody has said why...

Is there a particular coaching experience of his which draws the inference that he isn't up to coaching?

KET read some of the posts above

Out of interest, is there any evidence or history that Gaze can't coach?

That inference really cannot be made so far with how the Kings are going.

cannot believe people still doubting Andrew Gazes ability to coach.

The tough D and ball movement the Kings are displaying in Offence is the best in the NBL. A real exciting brand of basketball!!

The new FIBA qualification process surely means we need a coach based in Australia. So if it is part-time, the coach needs a job based in Australia too. This won't be just a coach for major tournaments with NBA-based players. The Boomers team will be predominantly NBL-based for most of the qualification period until the 2019 World Cup. Apart from the home-away FIBA qualification series, there is also the Asia Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Nearly all will comprise of mostly NBL players.

Two schools of thought.

If we're predominately going to have players from the NBA, then an NBA coach is a good idea. No need to stick with an Aus-based coach when few of the players are.

Otherwise, I like the idea of a Euro coach. Lets face it, they are our main opposition, and its always the Euro refs that screw us. Why not get someone who knows the players, teams, refs, etc.

Either option is predicated on the ability to get a suitable quality applicant, him wanting to coach another country's team, him being available for the requisite amounts of time.
(Happens all the time in Soccer, but not sure how the Americans feel about such things?)

Perhaps Joyce could be given the role. He has NBL coaching experience, he spent time with the Boomers and has international head coaching experience with the Opals. He also won't ever have a full time gig with a NBL/WNBL team to worry about.

Agreed, LC. Although I'd hope that Simmons issues were due to immaturity, and Maker's non-appearance in a Boomers singlet was strategic decision so that his deficiencies were not exposed to scouts. Simmons officially withdrew himself from Rio, but even if that was to cover his non-selection, I'd be totally comfortable in the case it was Lemanis's non-selection. Simmons couldn't expect to walk into a major role on the national team with his game as it was.

The new FIBA qualification process surely means we need a coach based in Australia. So if it is part-time, the coach needs a job based in Australia too. This won't be just a coach for major tournaments with NBA-based players. The Boomers team will be predominantly NBL-based for most of the qualification period until the 2019 World Cup. Apart from the home-away FIBA qualification series, there is also the Asia Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Nearly all will comprise of mostly NBL players.

IMO Lemanis is the best choice. He had the Boomers playing their best basketball ever, he is based in Australia, he knows NBL players, and he has experience with the international game. BA ought to do whatever they can to keep Lemanis around. Otherwise, I'd be inclined to try to secure a top proven local coach, someone familiar with our NBL-based players, who also has international experience. Beveridge (coached the 2003 junior team to gold)? Gleeson (assistant in Rio under Lemanis)? McLeod (Boomers assistant in 2008)? Hurley (assistant in Rio under Lemanis, 1988 1992 head coach)? Goorjian would be very capable, but now he is based in China.

Why not go with a European coach, similar styles of play and probably some different ideas.

If Gaze continues to win he'll be the coach, its what The aussies want

Why would we want a US coach? We would then be starting from scratch again.

In Rio, the Boomers finally found their identity. It would be a step backwards to bring in a coach that knows little about Aussie hoops, our culture and the way we play.

I was never a big fan of Lemanis, but he turned me around with what he was able to achieve with the team in Rio.

If we did end up with Lemanis remaining at the helm, I'm not sure the likes of Ben Simmons and Thon Maker will come on board as their relationships appear strained at best.

Jeez anyone that thinks Gaze can coach is deluded. Goorjian equally will never return for a part time gig.

Any word on Joyce stepping down also?

Hopefully Bevo gets the job ahead of Steve Blake.

If were were going for NBA, I would go for Brown back, but I can't see a NBA head coach getting time to coach a national team. Maybe an assistant coach for the right team.
I'd stick with Lemanis for now.

Gaze? LOL turn it up!

+1 for Goorjian. That is if Lemanis can't be retained - but he deserves another campaign, based on what we produced in Rio.

Brian Goorjian or Andrew Gaze please.

I would have said that rules Steve Blake out of getting the job, but we could actually use that to our advantage if we snuck him into the Team USA lunch room before the game.

I hate Steve Blake. He licks all the icing off of Oreos then puts the cookies back in the box

Surely you keep a good thing going?

It'd be great to see the criteria tweaked (within reason) if it allows Lemanis another term. Loved what I saw in Rio, the continuity would be beneficial to our chances, and the group deserves a shot at redemption.

Adrian Hurley lol

If AL doesn't want to juggle the role ( I see no reason why he can't or shouldn't ) then there would be nothing wrong with BA being ambitious and looking to the US for a big name coach. I agree, we want to maximise what we can do with this current crop of talent.

Coach D? Worst of both worlds!

We'd have a team full of NBA players, which would also likely include the bench. Why not bring on a legitimate NBA or NCAA coach to take control?

Nothing against Bevo, but BA has to look toward the US. Why not ask a Brad Stevens, Billy Donovan, Frank Vogel , Jay Wright, maybe Calipari, maybe Shaka Smart?

Would be nice to have a coach of that calibre to take over what could be the best team we've ever had.

Also, if it's a college coach, it would give them good reason to look in Australia to potentially recruit players.

Food for though.

Coached the U20 team to the Gold medal in 2003

What's Bevo done to be the best candidate ?

I just do not understand how James Packers is allowed to own large chunks of Fox and Ten when they are competeting companies, meaning he can sabotage the ONE HD channel in order to keep Fox afloat. Surely there are rules against this which would prevent him from being able to shut down ONE HD when it is clearly just to drive people onto fox sports?