SYDNEY (Australia) - Australia have turned back the clock and handed the national team reins to former Boomers coach Brian Goorjian.

The popular 67-year-old coach of The Hawks, the NBL side based in Wollongong, New South Wales, takes on the Australia post again following Brett Brown's recent announcement that he could not take up the position himself for a second time.

Brown had been expected to lead the team after several positive years under former Andrej Lemanis.

Goorjian had a young Patty Mills in the Australia team at the 2008 Olympics

Three stalwarts in the national team program - Pat Mills, Joe Ingles and before them, Andrew Bogut - earned their first Boomers caps when Goorjian was in charge of the team.

"Being reunited with some of the guys I previously coached at the Beijing Olympics is an exciting prospect," Goorjian said. 

Goorjian's first spell with Australia came after the Boomers came up short of qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002 in Indianapolis. He coached the team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the 2006 World Cup in Japan and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, when Mills notably broke into the team just as he was celebrating his 20th birthday.

Both Mills, and Ingles, who was 20, played to rave reviews at those Summer Games and have been linchpins in the team ever since.

"When I finished with the Boomers [after Beijing] I was just excited to watch them develop," Goorjian said.

"You see how great they have done and now I get this opportunity to get back with a lot of the guys I started with on that Beijing team."

Australia have been among the best teams in international basketball for the past several years, narrowly missing out reaching the podium at both the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and last year's World Cup in China. Spain edged the Boomers in Rio de Janeiro in the Bronze Medal Game, 89-88. In 2019, Spain needed two overtimes to defeat Australia in the Semi-Finals, 95-88, and France then beat Australia in the Third-Place Game.

"I'D BE LYING IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT THE TABLE HAS BEEN SET. THE PIECES ARE IN PLACE. THE GUYS HAVE A TREMENDOUS CAMARADERIE ..."- Goorjian

The Boomers should challenge for a medal at the Tokyo Olympics next year, maybe even the gold. In addition to Mills, Ingles and Bogut are point guards Matthew Dellavedova, Aron Baynes and potentially Ben Simmons, amongst others.

"Australia is very fortunate to have such a talented group of athletes at this time," Goorjian said. "There is certainly a feeling of unfinished business, so there is a strong commitment from these players to participating in the Tokyo Olympics."

Goorjian continued his coaching career in China after the 2008 Olympics and spent a decade there before returning Down Under to lead The Hawks.

Bogut was among the first players to recognize Goorjian's return.

Basketball Australia CEO Jerril Rechter sung the veteran play-caller's praises.

"Brian's success as a coach both domestically and internationally, plus his experience on the Olympic stage made him a standout candidate for this prestigious role," Rechter said.

"His appointment as our senior men's national team head coach elevates the excitement we feel for the Boomers, not just in Tokyo where we have podium expectations but also beyond this Olympic campaign."

Others have tweeted messages of enthusiasm, like Australia's FIBA Hall of Famer and five-time Olympian, Andrew Gaze.

Goorjian says he will immediately get to work on preparations for Tokyo, which are scheduled to tip off July 24.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say that the table has been set," he said. "The pieces are in place. The guys have a tremendous camaraderie and they have a cause. It's something they want to get done."

FIBA