Basketball Australia has today opened up recruitment for Head Coach of Australia’s medal-winning Women’s National Wheelchair Team, the Gliders – putting a full-time role on the table for the first time ever.

The Gliders’ Head Coach will also be based at the team’s new home: Basketball Australia's National Wheelchair Centre of Excellence at the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) in Homebush, Sydney.   

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Kristina Keneally said the Head Coach would play an integral role as the Gliders – currently ranked second in the world – target gold at both the 2014 IWBF Championships and the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

“The Gliders are undoubtedly one of Australia’s most successful Paralympic teams, boasting four Paralympic medals and three World Championship medals,” said Ms Keneally.

“One of the foundation sports on the program in Rome in 1960, wheelchair basketball continues to be one of the most popular sports at the Paralympics.

“Our Rollers and Gliders are renowned as trailblazers with our Paralympic programs, and Basketball Australia intends to continue that tradition.

“As we’ve done with the Opals, the Gliders Head Coach position has evolved from part-time to full-time with a permanent base – giving the Gliders the resources they need to aim for gold.”

The Head Coach will oversee the four-year program designed to see the Gliders deliver at major benchmark events as part of the Australian Sports Commission’s ‘Winning Edge’ 2012-2022 strategy.

The position will include setting the team’s program – in consultation with Basketball Australia’s High Performance management – encompassing the strategic direction of player development, program delivery, coaching, technical and scientific advances, resource development and competition.

The Board of Basketball Australia has appointed a selection panel, which will include:

• Men’s National Wheelchair Team Coach Ben Ettridge;
• Michael Hartung from Australian Paralympic Committee; and
• Former Opals Coach Jan Stirling, who has acted in a mentoring role to the
  Gliders coaching staff from 2010-2012.

The selection panel will chaired by Basketball Australia’s General Manager of High Performance and National Teams, Steven Icke.

Click here to read more about the Gliders Head Coach Position.  

Applications for the position close on Friday 26th April, 2013. Applications should be sent to:

Basketball Australia CEO Kristina Keneally

PO Box 7141, Alexandria NSW 2015

Or by email: ceo@basketball.net.au