TDMVPDPOY
03-30-2009, 07:32 PM
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25268466-11088,00.html
Brett Brown to coach Boomers
Ron Reed
March 31, 2009 11:15am
AMERICAN Brett Brown is to return to Australian basketball as head coach of the national team, the Boomers.
Basketball Australia announced today that Brown, 48, assistant coach of the famed San Antonio Spurs, would replace veteran Brian Goorjian, who has been in charge for six years.
Brown said today that his goal was to deliver Australia's first Olympic medal in London in 2012, but admitted that it would be tough to achieve.
"The world is getting better, but I can't back-pedal on our goal," he said.
"I can't have our players thinking anything else."
Brown, whose wife is from Melbourne, is well-known to Australian basketball fans.
He was assistant coach of the Boomers for 132 games between 1995 and 2003, including the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics.
Formerly an assistant to legendary coach Lindsay Gaze at the Melbourne Tigers, he was head coach of the North Melbourne Giants from 1993 to 1998 and the Sydney Kings from 2000 to 2002.
In 278 games as a head coach in the NBL, he has a 149-129 win-loss record and was coach of the year when the Giants won ther championship in 1994.
Goorjian, who was the NBL's coach of the year this year, taking the South Dragons from bottom to the championship, accepted the change graciously.
"I've known Brett for a long time," he said. "He's a great coach and a good person and I wish him every success."
San Antonio's legendary head coach Gregg Popovich also endorsed the appointment, saying: "Brett Brown has been paramount to the success of the San Antonio Spurs over the past decade and I am confident his technical and people skills will be well received by the team and the organisation.
"He is both a top-notch coach and person."
Brown will continue to work with the Spurs as the NBA season (October to June) does not conflict with the international season (July to September.
Brett Brown to coach Boomers
Ron Reed
March 31, 2009 11:15am
AMERICAN Brett Brown is to return to Australian basketball as head coach of the national team, the Boomers.
Basketball Australia announced today that Brown, 48, assistant coach of the famed San Antonio Spurs, would replace veteran Brian Goorjian, who has been in charge for six years.
Brown said today that his goal was to deliver Australia's first Olympic medal in London in 2012, but admitted that it would be tough to achieve.
"The world is getting better, but I can't back-pedal on our goal," he said.
"I can't have our players thinking anything else."
Brown, whose wife is from Melbourne, is well-known to Australian basketball fans.
He was assistant coach of the Boomers for 132 games between 1995 and 2003, including the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics.
Formerly an assistant to legendary coach Lindsay Gaze at the Melbourne Tigers, he was head coach of the North Melbourne Giants from 1993 to 1998 and the Sydney Kings from 2000 to 2002.
In 278 games as a head coach in the NBL, he has a 149-129 win-loss record and was coach of the year when the Giants won ther championship in 1994.
Goorjian, who was the NBL's coach of the year this year, taking the South Dragons from bottom to the championship, accepted the change graciously.
"I've known Brett for a long time," he said. "He's a great coach and a good person and I wish him every success."
San Antonio's legendary head coach Gregg Popovich also endorsed the appointment, saying: "Brett Brown has been paramount to the success of the San Antonio Spurs over the past decade and I am confident his technical and people skills will be well received by the team and the organisation.
"He is both a top-notch coach and person."
Brown will continue to work with the Spurs as the NBA season (October to June) does not conflict with the international season (July to September.