Fire GOAT returns

September 13, 2022 | Townsville Fire news

The Townsville Fire have bolstered their coaching with two new additions for the upcoming 2022/23 WNBL season. Marcus Wong will take over as lead assistant coach and Hayden Zasadny will also join the club as an assistant coach

Wong has spent more than seven years as Adelaide Lightning assistant coach in the WNBL and more than a decade at Sturt Sabres in the NBL1 South, winning two championships along the way. Most recently in his first year in the NBL1 West as Head Coach of the Women’s Wolfpack team, he was named Coach of the year and finished the season with a top 2 finish.

Zasadny has just finished up the NBL1 South season as the assistant coach with the Launceston Tornadoes, spending his time coaching at most levels in Tasmania, Zasadny is making the move North, the be involved in his first professional team under the tutelage of Seebohm.

The new-comers will join Paul Foster, Technical/Video Analyst Co-ordinator.
Along with head of High Performance – Brent Gorris and his team, Phillp Sheriff and Emily Wilson.

The GOAT of the Fire returns on the court, as an official specialist coach, Suzy Batkovic will be a part of the coaching staff as a specialist coach spending an early morning weekly training session with the bigs.

Fire GM Sam Pascoe told of the club’s excitement with the new additions to the coaching staff.
“Both new assistant coaches have tremendous experience in coaching and will add huge value to our coaching team.
“They’ll provide terrific support for our head coach Shannon Seebohm.

Pascoe admitted she was particularly happy to have Batkovic back on the court – albeit in a very different role to what we are used to from her.

“I have tried to convince Suzy to re-sign with the club since I started with the Fire, clearly unsuccessfully!
“So, to now have her back a part of the club as a speciality coach is a huge win and what a privilege to our current players, to have someone with her expertise, knowledge and talent, passing that on to the next crop of Fire players”

The JCU Townsville Fire enter pre-season next week, with all players expected to arrive throughout the week, ready to hit the court from the 26th September.

Coaching & Support Staff

Head Coach – Shannon Seebohm
Assistant Coach – Marcus Wong
Assistant Coach – Hayden Zasadny
Specialist Coach – Suzy Batkovic
Technical/Video Analyst Co-ordinator – Paul Foster
Head of High Performance – Brent Gorris
Strength & Conditioning – Phil Sheriff
Strength & Conditioning Intern – Emily Wilson
Team Manager – Donna Turner
Team Doctor – Dr Chris Ball
Team Physio – Hayden Singe