Simon Nicholson will lead the Sunbury Jets’ Big V women’s state championship side next year.
The Jets announced last week that Nicholson had been appointed to coach the side that made finals this year.
Nicholson has been involved in the Jets’ women’s program since 2018, having come through the pathways at the Jets and the Basketball Victoria state system.
“For me I plan to bring all the lessons I have been able to learn over the last five years as an assistant in the program and put them all together to get the program back to its championship winning ways of 2016-18,” Nicholson said in the Jets announcement.
“I’m lucky to be taking over the program in a really competitive and exciting time and feel major success is just around the corner with a few small adjustments as we build on the foundations laid by coach Draper in the 2022 season.”
Nicholson said one of his big aims as coach of the side was to be able to provide a clear pathway full of opportunities for both junior Jets players and coaches to get to high-test level at their local club.
“I’m excited to get to represent Sunbury at the highest level and show how much this club means to me,” he said.
“I can’t wait to get to work and build a highly competitive team that players enjoy playing in and play an exciting brand of basketball that the whole Sunbury Basketball community is proud of and can get behind.”
Sunbury Basketball Association coaching director Kennedy Kereama said from an association standpoint it is great to have a coach who has come through the SBA club pathway.
“Simon has put in a solid apprenticeship and worked with some great mentors; we often don’t provide opportunities to coaches that are ready soon enough,” he said.
“Simon is a very astute coach, that is an incredibly hard worker and wants what’s best for his players.”
Open try outs for the women’s program will be held on October 25 and 27 and November 3.