‘Catch 22’: Analysing our most coveted coaching jobs

• NBL and WNBL dominate Australia’s most coveted head coaching roles.
• Brisbane and Adelaide highlight how fast coaching pressure can escalate.
• WNBL expansion in 2026–27 adds two major jobs to the market.

The 22 most coveted head coaching jobs in Australia are in the NBL, WNBL, Boomers and Opals.

Fans, critics, former coaches and players alike have pummelled the Brisbane Bullets for the amount of coaches the NBL club has had in nine years … it’s seven for the record … but six in five years.

The Adelaide Lightning have also come in for some tough criticism after appointing their fourth coach in 12 months this season.

The WNBL is introducing two new franchises in 2026-27 – Tasmania Jewels and somewhere in South East Queensland – which means the 20 roles expands to 22.

But it gets narrow at the top of the funnel and every coach is measured on results, some given time to build others given no time. Australian basketball has dozens of exceptional coaches from veterans to emerging sideline stars.

basketball.com.au has taken a close look at each job, the incumbent head coach and the next generation of coaches preparing to step into the spotlight.

Incumbent WNBL Head Coaches

Adelaide Lightning

Record: 4-11

Aja Parham-Ammar has taken over from Kerryn Mitchell as the interim head coach. It’s a job interview of the toughest kind. The Lightning have had four coaches in little more than 12 months: Nat Hurst (2022-24); Scott Ninnis (2024-25); Kerryn Mitchell (2025); and Parham-Ammar (2025-26). Stability isn’t the calling card for one of the WNBL’s most storied clubs and Interim coaches are always in the HOT SEAT. Parham-Ammar was the 2023 Basketball Queensland Female Coach of the Year and Head Coach of the Logan Thunder in NBL1 2025.

Bendigo Spirit

Record: 13-2

Kennedy Kereama is as SAFE AS HOUSES. Kereama led the Spirit to a championship last season and back to the top of the WNBL ladder this season despite losing MVP Sami Whitcomb, a younger core group and the losses of Marianna Tolo and Casey Samuels. Kereama is one of the best coaches in Australia. He joined the Spirit ahead of the 2022-23 season after leading the New Zealand Tall Ferns from 2010 to 2017.

Canberra Capitals

Record: 7-8

Two-time WNBL championship head coach Paul Goriss’ seat is LUKE WARM. Goriss was the WNBL coach of the year in 2019-20. He has won titles with the Capitals, went to the WNBA as an assistant for the Atlanta Dream (2022-24) and returned to Canberra as an assistant. He was appointed head coach in 2024. Expectations were high at the start of WNBL26 with an upgraded roster but Canberra has struggled to string wins together. Today's win against the Perth Lynx is a big time W for Caps and Goriss.

Geelong Venom

Record: 3-12

Chris Lucas coached his 400th WNBL this season but it’s been a tough campaign for the rebranded Venom. Injuries have impacted the squad and hurt any chance of continuity. Lucas signed a two-year deal before the start of the 2024-25 season, Geelong's first in the WNBL, and the two-time championship winning coach and WNBL Coach of the Year’s season hasn't gone the way he or the club would have hoped.

Perth Lynx

Record: 12-4

Ryan Petrik is SAFE AS HOUSES. He has the Lynx second on ladder, recruited Han Xu and are WNBL26 Grand Final-bound if not championship favourites. The last time Perth missed the playoffs was in 2020. Whoever wins WNBL26 will need to go through Perth and Xu. Petrik has built the Lynx around Xu’s imposing presence and his team has responded, winning seven straight and were unbeaten since Xu’s arrival until today (Sunday, January 4, 2026) going down to UC Capitals at the buzzer.

Southside Melbourne Flyers

Record: 7-8

WNBL champion as a player, an Australian Opal and NBA player Kristi Harrower is Australian basketball royalty but her head coaching seat was starting to warm up but is now COOLING quickly. The Flyers started WNBL26 rough but are winning now and are dangerous. The Flyers finished last in WNBL25 but that’s firmly in the rear view mirror. They’ve won four of their past five and are starting to show signs of a finals team. The Flyers are fourth on the ladder and with most commentators and fans fixed on Bendigo, Perth and Townsville, Harrower's ball club flying a little under the radar is a good place to be.

Sydney Flames

Record: 4-12

Renae Garlepp’s seat is COLD. The Australian Gems World Cup coach took over from Guy Molloy mid-season with injuries galore, no second import, Agnes Emma-Nnopu with concussion and import Grace Berger didn’t arrive. Garlepp is highly respected and would have been first in line for Tasmania Jewels, which makes it huge for Sydney to lock her in. There is no interim tag in front of her “head coach” and that says it all.

Townsville Fire

Record: 11-3

There’s SAFE AS HOUSES and then there’s Shannon Seebohm. Seebohm isn’t just one of the best women’s coaches in Australia, he’s one of the best coaches in Australia, full stop. At just 37, he is already a five-time WNBL Coach of the Year, WNBL champion (2023) and two-time NBL1 North Coach of the Year.

Expansion teams

‍Tasmania (26-27) and Queensland-based team (26-27 or 27-28)

2026-27 WNBL Head Coaching Candidates

• Guy Molloy: Moved into the Flames front office after stepping down mid-season.
• Dave Herbert: Was the Head Coach of the Basketball Australia Women's Program at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for three years before leaving in May 2025. He has coached NBL1, WNBL and National Junior Championships 
• Cheryl Chambers: Is the head coach of the Sandringham Sabres for the NBL1 South Women’s Conference in 2026. She is an assistant coach to Sandy Brondello on the Australian Opals. Her resume is elite: three WNBL championships (2017, 2020, 2024); and three WNBL Coach of the Year awards (2005, 2009, 2017).
• Tully Bevilaqua: Former WNBA star and Indiana Fever player development coach Tully Bevilaqua became a “video associate” for the 2024 WNBA season. She was an assistant coach with the Phoenix Mercury in 2023.
• Marcus Wong (Fire AC): WNBL assistant coach with a wealth of experience and knowledge, serving as Seebohm's deputy at the Townsville Fire. There’s no better place to learn the craft. Wong has also been an assistant coach at Adelaide and won several championships as a head coach at the state league level. He led the Cairns Dolphins to the semi-finals in the NBL1 North this past season.
• John White (Bendigo AC): Another coach who has been an assistant at both the WNBL and NBL levels. He is coming off a season where he helped Kennedy Kereama's Bendigo Spirit claim the 2024-25 WNBL championship following an 18-3 regular season before going undefeated in the playoffs. White was also an assistant coach for Larissa Anderson at the Dandenong Rangers and for Chris Anstey at the Melbourne Tigers.
• Matt Clarke (Flyers AC): Was appointed head coach of the West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL1 Women) for the 2026 season. He won the  NBL1 Central Coach of the Year in 2021, was the lead assistant for the Adelaide Lightning and a guest coach at the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
• Tess Madgen (Opals legend/Bendigo NBL1 coach): Is one of the most respected basketballers in Australia. She retired after the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and is now primed to take on a big role. Madgen signed with the Bendigo Braves in NBL1 South on a two-year deal in October. She is a key voice in the new WNBL.
• Kristen Veal: Is a legend of the WNBL as a player and was part of several championships with the Canberra Capitals as Paul Goriss' assistant coach. She was appointed head coach of the Caps when Goriss joined the Atlanta Dream but was replaced by Goriss in 2024 when he returned. Veal has been the head coach of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence women's program. 
• Mel Downer (CoE): Took over from Dave Herbert in 2025 as the interim head coach of the CoE women’s program. Downer has been part of the national program for several years.
• Paul Flynn (Nunawading HC, former Melbourne Boomers AC): Was re-appointed head coach of the Spectres in October 2025. Flynn has coached the Spectres women’s team since 2017 and was the Boomers assistant in the WNBL from 2017 to 2022.
• Brendan Joyce (Ballarat Women's NBL1 HC): Is heading into his 26th year as a coach. He led the Illawarra Hawks to their first NBL championship in 2001 and is a two-time NBL coach of the Year. He was appointed head coach of the Ballarat Miners NBL1 South Conference team in December 2025.

Incumbent NBL Head Coaches

Adelaide 36ers

Record: 18-4

American Mike Wells has the 36ers at the top of the pile heading into the home stretch of the NBL26 regular season. The 55-year-old is sitting in a COOL, SAFE seat regardless if Adelaide wins it all. Wells has 26 years of experience in the United States, including Team USA. He started his coaching career as an intern with the Houston Rockets in 1994, the first of their back-to-back NBA championships, and has been an assistant with the Lakers, Spurs, Jazz and Hornets. 

Brisbane Bullets

Record: 6-17

Musical chairs is the best way to describe the Bullets: Andrej Lemanis; James Duncan; Sam Mackinnon; Greg Vanderjagt; Justin Schueller; Stu Lash; and now interim head coach Darryl McDonald since the Bullets rejoined the league in 2016-17. McDonald made his case for the job in the most public way on December 30: “They don’t need a coach – I’m right here, man. Stop bringing these coaches from the States. It hasn’t worked. What we are doing is overhauling people. You got a coach right here. "I know what it takes to win in this league.” But it’s no secret the Bullets are trying to sign a coach from the US despite interest from several Australian coaches. It’s highly unlikely McDonald will be the coach of the Bullets in NBL27. McDonald’s seat is SIZZLING.

Cairns Taipans

Record: 5-17

Adam Forde came back to the Taipans after deciding to leave the club after the NBL25. He credited coaching the Australian 3x3 team for reigniting the spark. The Taipans splashed the cash but were hurt by injuries. But everyone has injuries. The Taipans are in a battle to not win the wooden spoon with Brisbane. Forde is a four-time NBL champion as an assistant coach with the Perth Wildcats and NBL Coach of the Year in 2023 with the Taipans. But he’s in the HOT seat. 

Illawarra Hawks

Record: 8-13

Reigning NBL Coach of the Year and NBL25 championship coach Justin Tatum is as COOL as the seat he’s sitting in. Tatum is already a legend in the ‘Gong and now that he has his rotation similar to the 2024-25 squad, the Hawks are starting to tick. As Houston Rockets back-to-back championship coach Rudy Tomjanovich famously declared: “Never underestimate the heart of a champion.”

Melbourne United

Record: 15-8

Dean Vickerman is one of the best coaches in the NBL. Just the thought of Vickerman being in a hot seat is unthinkable. Vickerman has led Melbourne United to back-to-back Grand Finals but the pain of losing both is real. He is the Australian Boomers coach, when Adam Caporn is unavailable, and had United jump out the gates 9-0 in NBL26. The FIBA Break hurt United and are 3-5 since (6-8 since starting unbeaten) but Vickerman knows how to win. His seat is well and truly on the COLD side.

New Zealand Breakers

Record:  8-13

Finnish head coach Petteri Koponen is in his second season of a two-year deal with the Breakers. Koponen’s basketball pedigree as a player was elite. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round in 2007. He arrived in the NBL with a bang, getting the Breakers out to a 6-2 start to NBL25 but finished the season 10-19. The Breakers have shown glimpses in NBL26 but at 8-13, Koponen’s seat is getting WARM in a contract year. Kiwi favourites Judd Flavell and Paul Henare cast a long shadow in the program.

Perth Wildcats

Record: 12-10

John Rillie’s seat is WARMISH. The Wildcats are two games above .500 have faced recruiting, injury headwinds all season and are still recovering from how Bryce Cotton left the ball club. Rillie was an assistant coach at Boise State in the NCAA from 2011-17, an assistant at Santa Barbara from 2017-22 and then appointed head coach of the Wildcats in 2022. With Cotton Rillie was 50-35 (58%) and without 12-10 (54%). 

South East Melbourne Phoenix

Record: 14-7

American Josh King is an elite coach. South East Melbourne Phoenix are so tough to play against because King’s squad has bought in on both sides of the ball. His seat is as COOL as the other side of the pillow (Thanks Stuart Scott). King has done the hard yards since 2008: Vassar College (assistant); UMass Lowell (assistant); Marshall (assistant); New Hampshire (assistant); Riesen Ludwigsburg (assistant); USK Praha; Darüşşafaka; and now South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Sydney Kings

Record: 13-8

Brian Goorjian’s resume is too long to list. The six-time NBL champion’s seat is both SAFE & COLD. Goorj will coach for as long as he wants to, his only challenge is at 72 he can’t call a time out on Father Time. Goorjian's first coaching job was with the Ballarat Miners in 1986-87 – 40 years ago. Intriguingly, could Andrew Bogut’s appointment as an assistant coach before NBL26 be a head coaching apprenticeship for the former NBA star and champion? Bogut’s basketball IQ is off the charts, he is highly respected and downloading from Goorjian is a frightening prospect for rival coaches. 

Tasmania JackJumpers

Record: 10-13

American Scott Roth has the Tasmania JackJumpers job for as long as he wants it. Roth is a no-nonsense HC, who is as SAFE as Fort Knox. Roth led the JackJumpers to the championship in 2024 and although his ball club is 10-13 in NBL26, they are in virtually every game they play. Injuries and building chemistry with his new backcourt is always going to take time but rival coaches know, be prepared when it’s the Jackies. Roth, the NBL Coach of the Year in 2022,  has been an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons. The JackJumpers are in very good hands.

2026-27 NBL Head Coaching Candidates

• Jacob Chance: Former Melbourne United, Tasmania JackJumpers and Perth Wildcats assistant was named G League Coach of the Month in November 2025 after leading the Austin Spurs to a 9-1 record to start his first season as a head coach. Chance, at 31, is a rising star in Australian basketball. 
• Matthew Nielsen: One of Australia’s greatest NBL players and has spent the last four years at the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA working alongside one of the greatest coaches in basketball history, Gregg Popovich. It doesn’t get any better than that for the 47-year-old. Nielsen started his coaching career in 2015 as an assistant at the Perth Wildcats, moved to the Austin Spurs in 2019 and on to the Spurs coaching staff in 2021.
• Trevor Gleeson: Is the head coach of the Chiba Jets in the Japan B.League from 2024. Gleeson’s resume is almost Goorjian-like: 5-time NBL champion with Perth and two-time NBL Coach of the Year. He was an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors between 2021-23 and Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24. 
• Andrej Lemanis: Is the head coach of the Altiri Chiba in the Japan B.League from 2021. Lemanis led the Brisbane Bullets back in the NBL after guiding the New Zealand Breakers to three titles between 2011-13. He is a two-time NBL Coach of the Year (2012 and 2013) and former Australian Boomers Olympic Games head coach. The Boomers finished fourth in Rio in 2016. Lemanis’ place in history is assured. He was the first Australian coach to lead the Boomers to a win against the US – 98-94 – in a World Cup warm-up in Melbourne in 2019.
• Shawn Dennis: Is the head coach of the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in the Japan B.League from 2021. Dennis, 60, was the NBL Coach of the Year in 2016 at the Townsville Crocodiles. He started his coaching career as an assistant with the Newcastle Falcons in 1993. He became the head coach of the Shiga Lakestars in 2017 and has been in Japan ever since.
• Mick Downer: Longtime NBL assistant coach with the Cairns Taipans, Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers, also an assistant for the Boomers at the 2016 Olympic Games under Andrej Lemanis. Has been a head coach in the NZNBL, moved to the Japanese B League a few years ago as an assistant for the Akita Northern Happiness, where he has recently been promoted to head coach, leading a team with former NBL stars such as Keanu Pinder and Yanni Wetzell.
• Kerry Williams: Is an assistant coach at the Cairns Taipans. Williams, a rising star, is the head coach of the Indigenous All-Stars and head coach of the Cairns Marlins in the NBL1 North Conference. He is entrenched in the growth of basketball in Far North Queensland.
• Luke Cann: Is an assistant coach at the Adelaide 36ers. He was an assistant at the Brisbane Bullets between 2023 and 2025 and has steered the Logan Thunder NBL1 North Men’s Team to seven finals appearances. He took over the men’s team in 2017.
• Anthony Petrie: Is the Gold Coast Rollers NBL1 North Men’s head coach. Petrie won the 2023 NBL1 North Men’s Coach of the Year after leading the Rollers to the NBL1 North title in 2022. 
• Chase Buford: Is a two-time NBL championship coach with the Sydney Kings and was then basketball.com.au columnist Andrew Bogut’s first choice recommendation for the Brisbane Bullets. The 37-year-old American is an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.  
• Steve Woodberry: Played for the Brisbane Bullets between 1996-99 and the Sydney Kings in 2000. Word is that American Woodberry, who is an assistant coach at Missouri State in the NCAAM, is interested in returning to Australia. Woodberry won the League MVP in 1999. 
• Darryl McDonald: Is the interim head coach of the Brisbane Bullets and is unlikely to win the gig permanently but that doesn’t mean D-Mac is out of the race for a head coaching role in 2026-27.
• Greg Vanderjagt: Has been with the Brisbane Bullets since 2022 as an assistant, interim head coach, head coach and an assistant. Vanderjagt led the Under-16 Australian Crocs to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in September 2025 before returning to serve under Stu Lash. 
• Andrew Bogut: Is an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings. Bogut is part of Brian Goorjian’s coaching staff and is learning from the best in the business. A head coaching role is only a matter of time for a member of the Australian basketball royal family.
• Rob Beveridge: Former head coach of West Sydney Razorbacks, Sydney Spirit, Illawarra Hawks and Perth Wildcats - where he won a title in 2010. Also famously led the u19 Emus to the World Championship gold medal in 2003. That team featured stars such as Andrew Bogut and Damian Martin.
• Robbie McKinlay: Is the head coach at Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). McKinlay started his coaching career in 2006 at Augusta State University before becoming an assistant coach at the NBA’s Global Academy in 2017. He’s been the CoE head coach since 2021.
• Damian Cotter: Is an assistant coach at Josh Giddey’s Chicago Bulls. Cotter started his coaching career in 2000 at Knox, joined the NSW Institute of Sport in 2007, the Sydney Kings in 2013 as an assistant, became the head coach in 2014 before moving to the US and the Long Island Nets in 2017. 
• Sam Mackinnon: Is an NBL legend coaching Taranaki Airs in New Zealand. Mackinnon, 49, became an assistant coach with the Brisbane Bullets upon their return in 2017 was named the interim head coach of the Bullets in 2022 before moving to the South East Melbourne Phoenix in 2023 and the interim head coach in 2024 before the Phoenix hired now SAFE as houses Josh King. 
• Jason Cadee: Is 400-game NBL veteran and basketball.com.au contributor retired last season and is a natural to move to the bench in a coaching role. He doesn’t know he’s made our list but he has a high IQ basketball mind and can easily follow in the footsteps of his father, who coached the Australian Opals from 1986 to 1992 after winning the 1983 NBL Coach of the Year award.
• Aaron Fearne: Was the NBL Coach of the Year in 2015 at the Cairns Taipans and is now the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers in NCAA Men’s Division 1. He was an assistant with the Taipans from 2001 to 2009, head coach of the Marlins from ‘06 to ‘09 and then head coach of the Taipans from ‘09 to 2018. 

National Coaches

Australian Boomers

Adam Caporn is as SAFE as houses. He won the FIBA Men’s Asia Cup championship and has the backing of the Boomers players. His appointment was somewhat of a shock within the basketball community but he’s proven himself to be the right man to lead the Boomers into the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. His challenge will be to manage expectations given the NBA talent he’ll have at his disposal at both tournaments. 

Australian Opals

Sandy Brondello is as SAFE as houses. There are few more credentialed coaches in world basketball than Brondello both internationally and in the WNBA. Brondello led the Opals to a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and the New York Liberty to the WNBA championship in the same year. She is now the head coach of the WNBA expansion franchise Toronto Tempo and will lead the Opals to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

About the Author

Peter Brown is the head coach of the Sydney Comets Women’s Youth League team in the Waratah Basketball League in NSW. He is also the assistant coach for the Comets NBL1 women’s team in the NBL East Conference. Peter is a 30-year journalist, starting as a sports reporter at the NT News in the early 1990s. He played junior basketball for the Northern Territory at national championships from U16 to U20 and for the Territory’s senior men’s team at numerous international tournaments. Peter has been a basketball fan since the early 80s, especially the NBA. Basketball is his passion — and his opinions his own. Email peter.brown@basketball.com.au with feedback.