Experienced and emerging coaching talent on show in Cygnett WNBL#25
Just like the players who take the court in the Cygnett WNBL, there’s a wealth of experience and emerging talent in the coaching ranks.
There were three coaching changes in the off-season with Chris Lucas taking the helm of new club Geelong United, Paul Gorris replacing Kristen Veal in the nation’s capital and Kristi Harrower making her coaching foray into the league, she once dominated, with the Southside Flyers.
Lucas is embarking on his 18th season coaching in the WNBL and on opening night on Wednesday coached his 375th game.
He had stints as an assistant coach at Adelaide and Canberra before head coaching both clubs including the Lightning across two stints. Lucas has two championships to his name, lifting the trophy with Townsville Fire in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 30: Chris Lucas, Head Coach of Geelong United speaks to players during the round one WNBL match between Geelong United and Townsville Fire at The Geelong Arena, on October 30, 2024, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Another veteran coach continues his craft in Sydney with Guy Molloy heading into his 16th WNBL season.
Molloy made his league coaching debut in 1989 with the Canberra Capitals before guiding the Breakers from 1993 to 1996. He would take his talents to the NBL before returning to steer the Melbourne Boomers between 2013 and 2022, winning a long-awaited championship in 2021-22.
WNBL25 marks Molloy’s second season with the Flames.
The third-most experienced coach is Shannon Seebohm who is in his 8th season overall and sixth with Townsville.
As a 26-year-old, he burst onto the scene in 2014-15 winning Coach of the Year honours in the first of two years leading the Sydney Flames. A four-time Coach of the Year, Seebohm won his first championship in 2022-23 with the Fire.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 30: Fire head coach Shannon Seebohm speaks to his players in a time out during the WNBL match between UC Capitals and Townsville Fire at National Convention Centre, on January 30, 2024, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
After serving as assistant coach last season, Paul Goriss returns as Head Coach of the UC Capitals in season 2024-25.
The two-time championship coach, who is also an assistant with Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, has replaced Kristen Veal in what will be his 7th season in the job following his initial 2016-2022 stint.
Entering his 6th campaign is Bendigo Spirit’s Kennedy Kereama.
The former NZ Tall Ferns coach first coached in the WNBL in 2012 where he led the West Coast Waves, now known at the Perth Lynx, for three campaigns until 2015.
This is Kereama’s second year in the top job at Bendigo.
Coaching his fifth season at Perth Lynx, after an apprenticeship as an assistant coach to Andy Stewart, is Ryan Petrik.
Petrik, who steers Rockingham Flames NBL1 West men in the off-season, has taken the Lynx to two Grand Final series in his four seasons.
She won seven championships as a player and now in her third year as Adelaide coach, Nat Hurst is determined to lead the Lightning back into finals action.
Hurst served as an assistant coach for two seasons before she was promoted to head coach ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Considered destined to coach, Kristi Harrower makes her WNBL coaching debut for the Southside Flyers in Round 1.
A two-time champion and league MVP as a player, the former champion point guard has done her coaching apprenticeship as an assistant coach at the Melbourne Boomers and as NBL1 head coach of the Melbourne Tigers and in 2024 the Keilor Thunder where she was named NBL1 South Coach of the Year.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 20: Head Coach of the Lightning Nat Hurst talks to the players the 3rd quarter time break during the WNBL Hoopsfest match between Sydney Flames and Adelaide Lightning at Bendat Basketball Stadium, on September 20, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)