Luke Brennan is in his second year as Head Coach of the Townsville Flames in the 2020 NBL1 North season. Luke has previously been Assistant Coach with the the Townsville Fire in the WNBL with Head Coaches Claudia Brassard (2019) and Shannon Seebohm (2020).

Luke had a lengthy playing career, playing in the NBL under Coach Brian Goorjian with the Sydney Kings in a Championship year, and also played with Coach Rob Beveridge at the Norths Bears in Sydney. Luke also played in the NSW Waratah League before heading to Townsville and playing with the Townsville Heat from 2015 and winning the state titles in 2017 & 2018 under Head Coach Rod Anderson.

Luke talks about the balance of coaching elite teams as well as his role as a teacher and in this interview we talk about the parallels between teaching and coaching, the influences on his coaching style and the experienced players he has recruited to the 2020 Townsville Fire line-up. Luke is keen to bring through several of Townsville's state championship winning Under 18 players into the state league playing group and also talks about the learnings of being involved with the Townsville Fire WNBL program.

You can follow Luke's team through the Townsville Basketball website https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-4762-0-0-0

Joel Khalu is back in 2020 as Head Coach of the Mackay Meteors Mens NBL1 North team, a role he last had in 2015 when his team won the QBL state title. Joel is originally from Cairns, playing with the Cairns Marlins i his younger days before moving into coaching and administrative roles. Joel was Operations Manager of the Cairns Taipans from 2009-10 before moving to Mackay to be Assistant Coach in 2011, and then moving into the Head Coach role from 2013-2015. Joel has been involved in 3 QBL titles and is looking forward to implementing a winning culture across the NBL1 North Mackay teams in 2020.

Joel was Basketball Papua New Guinea (PNG) Chief Executive Officer from 2016-17 and was the Head Coach of the PNG mens team from 2013-2019. Joel was also the Australian Indigenous Basketball Chief Executive Officer from 2017-2019 and was the Head Coach of the Australian Indigenous Mens National Basketball team from 2014-2019. Joel has also been involved in the Qld state team programs, being Head Coach of the Under 20 mens team from 2012-2014.

In this interview we talk about Joel's experiences in taking the Mackay mens team to multiple QBL championships, his experiences as Head Coach of the PNG mens team at FIBA Asia-Pacific tournaments, and the way Mackay Basketball engages with the local community to promote basketball. You can follow Joel's team in the NBL1 North season through the Mackay Basketball Association website at https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4812-0-0-0&sID=84224 or the NBL1 website at https://nbl1.com.au/

Shane and Jenny Froling are both experienced basketball players and coaches, and in this interview we had a chat about their basketball careers, the coaches that influenced them in their junior representative and NBL/WNBL playing careers and the careers their children (Alicia, Keely, Harrison and Samson) are now having in the WNBL and NBL.

Shane Froling was a Victorian junior rep player, being introduced to basketball at a young age, and attended the AIS (1985-86) and played and coached 20 seasons in the NBL and Australian basketball scene being coached by world champion and Olympic level coaches such as Barry Barnes, Brian Goorjian, Tom Maher, Ian Stacker, Patrick Hunt, Dr Adrian Hurley and Phil Smyth. Shane played in the NBL with the Eastside Melbourne Spectres, Hobart Devils, Brisbane Bullets and finished up his playing career with the Townsville Suns before switching into an Assistant Coaching role under Head Coach Mark Bragg. Shane was Assistant Coach with the Townsville Crocodiles from 1997-2006, and was also highly influential in basketball development in North Queensland as Queensland Academy of Sport Head Coach. Shane has also been involved in Queensland junior representative teams as Head Coach and Assistant Coach, as well as being the Australian Emu's Development Coach from 2006-2010. Shane was involved with the Indonesian National Mens Team from 2011-12 and is Coaching Director at the DBL camp held annually. Shane was named Queensland Male Coach of the Year in 2009-2010.

Jenny Froling (nee Lind) grew up in Collinsville and was also a junior representative player, and played at the Queensland level under legendary coach Norma Connolly. Jenny started her WNBL career with the Brisbane Lady Bullets after moving to Brisbane in 1983. Jenny was awarded a scholarship at the AIS (1985-86) where she met Shane. Jenny then moved to Melbourne, with the goal of going to join Geelong but she then joined the WNBL Nunawading Spectres under Head Coach Tom Maher. Jenny won 2 WNBL championships as a player and then 1 as team manager. Jenny and Shane moved to Hobart where she played with the Hobart WNBL team and won her 4th WNBL Championship. Jenny then became Assistant Coach for the Hobart Quit Islanders in 1991. Jenny and Shane moved to Brisbane while Shane played with the Bullets, and then after having her 4 children, Jenny decided to join the ranks of referees in the local Townsville competition. Jenny quickly became a QBL, WNBL and NBL rostered referee over the next few years.

In the history of the WNBL Jenny is the only representative to have played, managed, coached, refereed and mothered WNBL champions at the WNBL level and she was recently awarded WNBL Life Membership in February 2020.

Mick Downer became Head Coach of the Canterbury Rams in the New Zealand National Basketball League from March 2019, taking his team to the post season and being named 2019 Coach of the Year. Mick is now in his second season as Head Coach and recently brought a youth development team (Mainland Eagles Basketball Academy) to Australia in January 2020 on a playing/pre-season tour.

Mick was previously Assistant Coach and High Performance and Development Manager with the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL from 2016 to 2019. Mick was also Technical Assistant Coach with the Australian Boomers mens team from 2013 to 2016 and went to the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio with Head Coach Andrej Lemanis. Mick was also Assistant Coach with the Australian University Men's Team in 2015 at South Korea, and was Assistant Coach at the Cairns Taipans with Head Coach Aaron Fearne, as well as being Assistant Coach with the Perth Wildcats.

Mick is qualified as a Master Coach (Basketball Australia Coaching Accreditation Program) and is a FIBA Licensed International Basketball Coach. He has worked as Coach Development Manager at Basketball Queensland from 2015-16.

In this interview, Mick discusses his introduction to basketball In Logan in Southern Brisbane, and the influences on his basketball career to date. Mick talks about the incredible experiences and opportunities he has had through his involvement with the Boomers, and his experiences with Perth, Cairns and Brisbane in the NBL, and the season ahead with his new team, the Canterbury Rams. Mick takes us through his defensive style of play as recently published in ADB Basketball's January 2020 edition http://www.flippubs.com/publication/?i=648796&fbclid=IwAR3j7QOSVZlIxQGKh5aDErkddsY1ygaXZh1D0Nm2MWJvkhmk5AmNDK6J2IM and he discusses the evolution of the "tagging up" defensive transition strategy developed in Cairns.

To follow Mick and the Canterbury Rams in 2020, check out their Club website at: https://canterburyrams.basketball/

Mick Conlon is Head Coach of the Gold Coast Rollers, runners-up in the 2019 QBL Grand Finals, and will be coaching the Rollers into the 2020 NBL1 North season. Mick has had a variety of coaching roles including 3 years as Assistant Coach with the Gold Coast Blaze in the NBL from 2009/10 to 2011/12 with Head Coach Joey Wright. Mick has been involved in SEABL as Assistant Coach with the Southern Districts Spartans, and was QBL Coach of the Year in 2011 with the Rollers.

Mick was Head Coach for the Ipswich Force in the QBL from 2015-17, and overall is coming up to his 15th year in the state league. Mick was Head Coach (2016) and Assistant Coach (2006-08) for the Qld Under 20 mens team competing at the Australian National Championships.

In this interview, we talk all things pre-season in terms of recruiting, player selection, goal setting and getting the team ready through off court and on court sessions. Mick provides some great insight into developing leadership within the sports and business environments and the significance of the NBL1 branding to the league and the opportunity to perhaps one day seek bragging rights for the best Club team in Australia.

Follow Mick's team through Gold Coast Basketball Association's web page https://goldcoastbasketball.com.au/ and the NBL1 website https://nbl1.com.au/

Bruce Palmer is amongst one of the most influential coaches in Australia over the past 40 years. Bruce was a graduate of the University of the Pacific in California and began his NBL career playing with the Melbourne Tigers under Head Coach Lindsay Gaze in 1977, and competed in the first year of the Australian NBL in 1979. Bruce was Player/Coach of the Coburg Giants in 1982 before injury forced him into early playing retirement at age 27. Bruce was the Head Coach of the North Melbourne Giants from 1987-92, winning the NBL Championship in 1989. Bruce was awarded NBL Coach of the year on 5 occasions (1986, 1988, 2004, 2005 and 2009), and has also worked with Australian National teams and youth teams.

Bruce was Head Coach of the Brisbane Bullets from 1992-95, then was Assistant Coach from 1998-99. He coached in Japan with the Toyota Team from 1999-2000 and again with Tochigi Brex from 2010-12, and also had stints in the SEABL as Head Coach with the Hunter Pirates (2003) and Southern Districts Spartans (2005). Bruce was CEO of the Springboard organisation, working with traumatised children for residential out of home care for the period 2004-2009.

Bruce took up the role of Technical Director with the CBA Dongguan Basketball School (An NBA Training School) in 2012 until recently and now lives in Brisbane, coaching youth teams with Brisbane Basketball and has a golf handicap of 17. In this interview, Bruce talks about the long family connection with the Goorgjian family, his NBL playing days, and the move into NBL coaching and the challenges and successes of that era. His experiences in China and Japan are fascinating and he passes on some great quotes, coaching philosophy and learnings throughout this podcast.

David Ingham is the Director of Basketball Operations at Knox Basketball Inc. in Victoria, Australia, and is a former NBL Head Coach, Assistant Coach and Australian National Team Under 17 Assistant Coach. David began his playing career in South Australia and represented SA Metro in juniors at National Championships, attended the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in 1984 and represented Australia in the Under 20 age group.

David was in the Adelaide 36ers squad in his early playing days, took on the Head Coach and Captain of the Cairns Marlins in the QBL in 1991, and played for the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL before moving into coaching with the Gold Coast Rollers as Assistant Coach to Head Coach David Claxton in 1992. He then went on to be Assistant Coach with the Brisbane Bullets from 1992-95 (with Head Coaches Brian Kerle and Bruce Palmer), and then became the youngest NBL Head Coach in history with the Bullets from 1996 to 1997.

From 2000 to 2003, David was SEABL Head Coach Mildura Mavericks, then went to Perth to be Assistant Coach with the Perth Wildcats from 2003-2006. David then embarked on some overseas experiences, coaching in Qatar with CLub Al Arabi as Head Coach from 2006 to 2009, then to China as Consultant Coach with Heilongjiang Basketball Team from 2009-12, then Head Coach of Jiangxi Xin Dragons Basketball Club in the Chinese NBL.

On his return to Australia, David went back to Adelaide and from 2013 to 2019 was the State High Performance Manager for Basketball South Australia, directly managing over 100 staff including administrators & coaches, and overseeing the development of 400 High Performance players and grassroots players throughout South Australia. He also became the Assistant Coach Australian Mens Under 17 team from 2015-2018.

In this interview, we talk about David's extensive basketball experience as player, coach and Administrator, the experiences working overseas and the role of an Assistant Coach within a National youth team. David highlights the areas of focus for Knox Basketball in coaching development and teaching the players to play the right way. To get in touch with David, contact him at Knox Basketball Inc via email [email protected] visit the website https://www.knoxbasketball.com.au/

Norma Connolly OAM is one of Australia's most experienced coaches and has led countless teams to State and National Junior Age Championships as a head coach. Norma was head coach of the Queensland Under 16 and Under 18 women's teams for over 20 years and was Head Coach of the National Junior Development Program for North Queensland in the early 1990's as well as the Head Coach at the Queensland Academy of Sport.

Norma was the Team Manager of the Australian Gems Under 19 women's team at the 1993 (Korea), 1997 (Brazil), and 2001 (Czech Republic) World Championships, winning one Gold and one Silver Medal. She was founding Head Coach of the Townsville State High School basketball program. She is a life member of Mackay Basketball and continues to have the Under-16 women's National Junior Championship trophy named in her honour. Norma was named the National Women's Coach of the Year in 1998 and was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

Norma is a Life Member of Mackay Basketball Association and the show court is known as the Connolly Court in her honour. Norma received the Basketball Australia Merit Award in 2003, and was inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2007. Her lifelong dedication to basketball was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia on 26th of January, 2012 for "service to the sport of basketball through administrative and coaching roles".

In this podcast, we have a chat about Norma's joy of coaching, and her ongoing association with basketball (in her 60+ years) as a coach, manager and administrator. Norma is currently coaching junior girls teams with Townsville Basketball and talks about her passion for learning and focusing on fundamentals and encouraging junior players to be the best players they can be.

Alan Stein Jr is a speaker, coach and author with expertise in improving organizational performance, cohesion and accountability. Alan spent 15 years working with the highest performing basketball players on the planet (like 2-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant) and now teaches companies how to utilise the same strategies in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level.

Alan is a dynamic storyteller and provides some great practical take-aways in this podcast in the areas of creating accountability and culture, encouraging players to be creative and make mistakes, and for coaches to be at their best so they can be the best coach they can be.

Alan served as the Head Performance Coach for DeMatha Catholic High School's basketball program in Washington DC for 6 years, working with Head Coach Morgan Wootten, one of the top coaches in the 20th century with a winning percentage of 0.869% 1274 career wins/192 losses over a 46 year period. Alan also worked with Coach Wootten's successor, Coach Mike Jones who, in 16 years, has amassed 435 wins and seven WCAC Championships.

Alan talks about the experiences of working with elite high school, college and NBA players through his involvement with the Nike Skills Academies, McDonald's All-American game, Jordan Brand Classic, NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp and the CP3 Elite Guard Camp. He also talks about his time as host of the Pure Sweat Basketball Show and his work with NBA Skills Coach & Consultant, Drew Hanlen.

Alan talks in this podcast about his book "Raise Your Game" and also his very successful podcast, "The Raise Your Game Show", which can be accessed on most podcast platforms. For more information on Alan and his professional services, visit his website at https://alansteinjr.com/ or email him at [email protected]. You can also connect with Alan on all the usual social media sites.

Dr Stephen Bird is an elite performance consultant and advisor to professional sports teams and international sporting organizations since 2000, being involved in athlete development and management for a number of high level elite sporting events such as Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, World Cups, Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.

Stephen is a well-known author, speaker and researcher with expertise in elite athlete preparation and nutritional supplementation, and has worked with a number of mens and womens National Basketball League teams including the Perth Wildcats (2012-14), West Coast Waves (2012-13), Townsville Fire (2017-19), Townsville Crocs (2014-16), the Illawarra Hawks (2016-19) and internationally with the Indonesian Olympic team, the Scottish Commonwealth Games mens basketball team, and the Glasgow Rock (2019) from the British Basketball League.

This interview covers a range of highly practical and readily applicable tips and thoughts for basketball coaches drawing from Stephen's experience working with elite athletes at the international, national league level, and also youth basketball level, through his work with the New South Wales State Performance Program. We discuss core strength considerations for basketball, Stephen's 100 point recovery checklist, mindset development and an accountability blueprint, tips for developing a mental mindset for free-throw shooting and the recovery pyramid.

Stephen mentions some excellent resources during the interview including Dr Jo Lukins' book "The Elite" https://www.drjolukins.com/ and also a great app called Smiling Mind https://www.smilingmind.com.au/ used to assist with athlete meditations and mindfulness strategies.

Listeners can contact Dr Stephen Bird through his email [email protected] or check his website https://stephenbird.co/ . You can also follow Stephen on all of the usual social media platforms.