Tara Murray
Sunbury Jets coaching director Kennedy Kereama will again be in the Women’s National Basketball League senior coaching hot seat.
The former West Coast Waves and New Zealand national head coach was last week announced as the Bendigo Spirit’s coach for the 2022-23 season.
Kearama, who has been an assistant coach at the Canberra Capitals and Melbourne Boomers in recent years, said he was also keen to get another opportunity in one of the best leagues in the world.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and excited,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I’ve always wanted to be coaching at the highest level, but it’s always been about timing.
“And it’s been about being the right person for the job, it’s always been an ambition of mine.”
Kereama, who coached the Jets’ women’s sides to three straight titles, was combining his coaching director role at the Jets, while being part of the other WNBL programs.
He said this new role will allow him to continue the work he has done at the Jets.
“It will be the way it has always been,” he said.
“Sunbury has built a really formidable program and it’s something to be proud of. We want to continue to build on that and now I can hopefully build something similar at Bendigo with the WNBL program.”
Kereama comes to the Spirit which has recently become a new ownership.
On court, the Spirit finished last season in fifth spot.
Kereama said having watched them first hand last season, he knows they weren’t far off.
“The program has a strong tradition with a rich history,” he said. “They’ve been a very tough proposition to coach against the last couple of seasons.
“I will get to work with some of the athletes in the world. I want to help the side become competitive every game.
“The difference is adding a couple more pieces to the program. They weren’t far off.”
