Shannon Seebohm's secret: 'Say yes to everything'

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When five-time WNBL coach of the year Shannon Seebohm offers advice, listen.

Seebohm, 37, has his Townsville Fire team firing to start the 2025-26 season. The WNBL25 Grand Finalists are 8-1 and top of the ladder.

"The advice I would give to someone that wants to coach at a professional level is: be willing to give up your time," Seebohm said on the first episode of the WNBL's Coach on the Couch.

"Volunteer. Go and learn from other coaches. Say yes when you start out. Say yes to everything.

"If you're asked to coach Aussie Hoops, do it. If you're asked to go and rebound for a player, do it. If you're asked to do the score clock for another professional team, go and do it. You can learn something everywhere. If you want to coach, the more that you actually do it, like anything, the better you're going to get.

"Surround yourself with like-minded people that are passionate about it. Go and watch, observe practices of professional teams, watch other coaches, and you'll be surprised how much you can pick up.

"If you had told me that I'd be a professional coach and coach in the WNBL and have coached within the Australian program and done some of those things 10, 12, 15 years ago, I don't think I would have believed you. I feel so fortunate to have these opportunities and it's definitely not something that I take for granted."

Seebohm has won at every level in Australian basketball: 2023 WNBL Champion; 2022 NBL1 North Champion; and two-time Waratah League Champion in 2014 and 2019 in NSW. He is also a time-time NBL1 North coach of the year, back to back in 2021 and '22. He was named WNBL coach of the year in 2015, 2020 and from 2023 to 2025.

He speaks of "legacy" when reflecting on his coaching goals and there is no further proof of his impact than almost all of the Townsville Fire's core from last season returning this season. It's rare for a roster, which includes imports, to be so settled from one season to the next.

"I hope I leave a legacy of being a good person, being a good role model in our community, impacting our players’ lives in a positive way, and helping elevate the basketball in Townsville," he said.

Townsville Fire 2025-26 Roster

• Abbey Ellis: Guard; 1.68m (5 ft 6 in)
• Alex Fowler: Forward; 1.88m (6 ft 2 in)
• Alicia Froling: Centre; 1.90m (6 ft 3 in)
• Courtney Woods: Guard / Forward; 1.83m (6 ft 0 in)
• Lauren Cox: Forward; 1.93m (6 ft 4 in)
• Dakota Crichton: Forward
• Miela Sowah: Guard; 1.8m (5 ft 11 in)
• Chloe Forster: Guard; 1.76m (5 ft 9 in)
• Lucy Olsen: Point Guard; 1.78m (5 ft 10 in)
• Piper Anderson (DP): Guard; 1.8m (5 ft 11 in)

INS: Miela Sowah; Chloe Forster; Dakota Crichton; Lucy Olsen; and Piper Anderson.

Injured: Saffron Shiels

"Success for me is: do we live up to our core values every day? Seebohm said.

"Do we come to practice with the right mindset, do we work hard, are we good people, do we get out in our community, go to schools and be positive role models for kids, and behave the right way in terms of what we're trying to accomplish?

"If we do those things, then the success on the court — winning games — tends to take care of itself.

The proudest moments for me are seeing some of the players that have come through here go on to represent Australia and bigger and better things, and seeing the people that have come in and really committed themselves to getting better in our program being able to enjoy success and get the most out of their careers.

"The other moment would be the championship we won in 2022–23. That was a really memorable season and a great group of players, and I think I'll remember that group and that season forever."

Shannon Seebohm's Coaching career

• 2011–2014: Sydney Kings (assistant)
• 2014: Hornsby Spiders
• 2014–2016: Sydney Uni Flames
• ‍2017: Norths Bears
• 2018–2019: Newcastle Hunters
• 2019–present: Townsville Fire

Career highlights

• WNBL champion (2023)
• NBL1 North champion (2022)
• 2× Waratah League champion (2014, 2019)
• 5× WNBL Coach of the Year (2015, 2020, 2023–2025)
• 2× NBL1 North Coach of the Year (2021, 2022)