AUS – Heal: "I don't think the Boomers coach should be coaching in the NBL"

SYDNEY (National team) - Former Australia national team star Shane Heal has spoken of the need for the Boomers to have a full-time coach.

Brian Goorjian has been at the helm of the national side for six years while also coaching in the NBL.

Goorjian indicated before the Olympics that he would step down from the Boomers’ job after the Beijing Games and Heal, who reached the semi-finals of the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, has offered his view on the coaching situation in a column on www.goldcoast.com.au.

"I don't think the Boomers coach should be coaching in the NBL and doing the most important role in Australian basketball as a part-time thing in the off-season," Heal wrote.

"The head coach should also coach the under-19 Australian team too. This would provide some continuity and understanding of what's needed for these kids to eventually step up to the senior level.

"It allows the coach to run the same offenses and defenses, use the same terminology and create the same values and cultures that the senior team has."

Heal believes that a national team coach who is also at the head of an NBL side might show favouritism towards his own players.

"Coaches also have been criticised for being biased in choosing guys who play in their club team," Heal wrote.

"Goorjian copped flak for choosing so many (Sydney) Kings players.

"I had my opinion about him choosing Luke Kendall from the Kings over my teammate in Melbourne Joe Ingles.

"A year later he was coaching Joe and chose him over Kendall whom he no longer coached.

"The national coach should not be put in this situation."

FIBA