Basketball Victoria is proud to announce the coaching and staff appointments for the 2025 Victorian State Teams. We congratulate the Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Team Managers who have been selected for these prestigious positions.

After a highly successful 2024, in which Victorian teams claimed six national titles at the Under 20 and Ivor Burge tournaments, as well as victories in the Under 18 and Under 16 Metro Men’s divisions, the bar has been set for elite junior basketball across the nation.

Victorian teams have consistently showcased their dominance at the national level, and this year’s coaching appointments reflect the depth of talent within our ranks. The 2025 appointments feature a strong blend of seasoned professionals with national experience, as well as fresh faces ready to take on new challenges.

Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey expressed his enthusiasm for the new coaching roster, stating, "It’s exciting to see the next generation of Victorian state team coaches and staff members preparing for the 2025 Australian Junior Championships. This is a testament to the strength and continued growth of Basketball Victoria's High Performance program."

Honey also acknowledged the tremendous pool of coaching talent available for the state teams. "I’d like to thank everyone who applied for roles within our state team program. Their dedication to Victorian basketball is commendable. Those selected will be instrumental in driving our teams toward further success" he said.

In addition to the six national titles, Victorian state teams earned numerous accolades in 2024, including bronze medals for the Under 18 Country Women and Men, and silver medals for the Wheelchair Basketball team and the Under 16 Metro Women’s team.

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Each year, Basketball Victoria sends 15 state teams to the Australian Junior Championships, representing both Country and Metropolitan areas, competing in categories across Ivor Burge (for athletes with an intellectual disability), the Kevin Coombs Cup (wheelchair basketball), the Under-16, Under-18, and Under-20 divisions.

The newly appointed coaching and support staff represent a widely experienced group, with women making up 34 of the 75 appointments, underscoring Basketball Victoria’s commitment to gender equity in our sport. All appointed individuals share a deep commitment to the Victorian performance pathways and the continued success of our basketball teams.

2025 Victorian State Teams Coaching and Staff Appointments:

Under 20

Women

Head Coach – Kelly Walker (Eltham)
Assistant Coach – Hannah Ronan-Black (Bulleen)
Assistant Coach – Libby Schoenfeld (Nunawading)
Development Coach – Nikki Holmes (Frankston)
Team Manager – Emma Noonan (Frankston)

Men

Head Coach – Zach Moult (Kilsyth)
Assistant Coach – (TBC)
Assistant Coach – Alan McAughtry (Kilsyth)
Development Coach – (TBC)
Team Manager – Wayne Bird (BV)

Navy Women

Head Coach – Jenna O’Hea (BV)
Assistant Coach – Lauren Robinson (Knox)
Assistant Coach – Dustin van Eijk (Kilsyth)
Development Coach – Tammy Symmons (Sunbury)
Team Manager – (TBC)

Navy Men

Head Coach – Darren Best (BV)
Assistant Coach – Nathan Cooper-Brown (BV)
Assistant Coach – Craig Hitchiner (Melbourne)
Development Coach – David Quinn (Diamond Valley)
Team Manager – Richard Morin (Ballarat)

Ivor Burge (Athletes with an intellectual disability)

Women

Head Coach – Emily Attard (Bacchus Marsh)
Assistant Coach – Gabriele Byrne (BV)
Assistant Coach – Madison Smith (Mornington)
Development Coach – Mollie van der Linden (Bacchus Marsh)
Team Manager – Silvia van der Linden (Bacchus Marsh)

Men

Head Coach – Ryan Holloway (BV)
Assistant Coach – Adrian Carfora (Whittlesea)
Assistant Coach – Isiah Ravall (Kilsyth)
Development Coach – Marach Marach (Geelong United)
Team Manager – Daniel Fabien (Casey)

Under 18

Country Women

Head Coach – Joe Turner (Casey, previously Southern Peninsula)
Assistant Coach – Mahaela Jackson (Mildura)
Assistant Coach – Madison Lee (Diamond Valley)
Development Coach – Lydia Brooks (Ballarat)
Team Manager – Wendy Campbell (Traralgon)

Metro Women

Head Coach – Jaysn Harvey (Dandenong)
Assistant Coach – Cristy McCluskey (Frankston)
Assistant Coach – Kaleb Foster (Knox)
Development Coach – Amy Quick (Nunawading)
Team Manager – Katrina Barry (Dandenong)

Country Men

Head Coach – Brenton O’Brien (Knox, previously Geelong United)
Assistant Coach – Dylan Cole (Keilor, previously Macedon)
Assistant Coach – Zak Tripp (Traralgon)
Development Coach – Fernando Rios-Rodriguez (Melton)
Team Manager – Ben White (Southern Peninsula)

Metro Men

Head Coach – Matt Shanahan (Diamond Valley)
Assistant Coach – Andy Lim (Sandringham)
Assistant Coach – Dan Girolimi (Diamond Valley)
Development Coach – Justin Wong (Nunawading)
Team Manager – Mark Sainsbery (BV)

Wheelchair team (Kevin Coombs Cup)

Head Coach – Jason Bryant (Wyndham)
Assistant Coach – Lauren Robinson (Knox)
Assistant Coach – Damian Duke (Wyndham)
Development Coach – Emily Whittle-Harmon (Melbourne)
Team Manager – Kim Hampton (BV)

Under 16

Country Women

Head Coach – Carly Stones (Eltham / Seymour)
Assistant Coach – Ainslie Howard (Geelong United)
Assistant Coach – Chris Clark (Surfcoast)
Development Coach – Steph Whatley (Geelong United)
Team Manager – Lisa Chesshire (Terang)

Metro Women

Head Coach – Samantha Thornton (Melbourne)
Assistant Coach – Morgan Tolley (Melbourne)
Assistant Coach – Debbie Coulson (Eltham)
Development Coach – Braithyn Kerr (Frankston)
Team Manager – Bianca McCulloch (Nunawading)

Country Men

Head Coach – James McKinnon (Ballarat)
Assistant Coach – Darcy Thornton (Southern Peninsula)
Assistant Coach – Ben Caruana (Bendigo)
Development Coach – Josh Hutton (Echuca)
Team Manager – Jessica Flavell (Wallan)

Metro Men

Head Coach – Nathan Geer (McKinnon)
Assistant Coach – Dylan Theis (BV)
Assistant Coach – Luke Hughes (Dandenong)
Development Coach – Rhett Pottenger (Dandenong)
Team Manager – Karen Goodman (Dandenong)

Basketball Victoria extends its appreciation to everyone who participated in the selection process, particularly Dee Butler (NBL1 Diamond Valley Women’s Head Coach and former Gems Head Coach) and Matthew Nunn (NBL1 Knox Raiders Men’s Head Coach) for their expertise and contributions as part of the respective selection panels. We are eager to see our newly appointed coaches and staff members on the court as they guide the next generation of elite athletes along the path to greatness.

Stay tuned for more updates as the 2025 Australian Junior Championships approach!

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