Jansen steps up to guide Seahawks
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THE North Gold Cost Seahawks have announced a bold new coaching reshuffle for their women’s basketball sides ahead of the 2020 season.
Rob Sleaford, who serves on the organisation’s board and has coached in varying roles since 2012-13, will take on the Seahawks Southern Basketball League job after coaching the Queensland Basketball League women to a 9-9 record in 2019.
His assistant, Paula Jansen, has been promoted to the Seabest-fit hawks’ top women’s basketball job in his stead.
Seahawks general manager Dwayne Vale denied the coaching reshuffle was a demotion for Sleaford.
“(Sleaford) wasn’t a demotion, Paula was just a great coach,” Vale told the Bulletin.
“Rob sees himself helping the pathway more than being the leader of the program.
“Paula’s resume speaks for itself, and the fact they’re willing to partner and work together was a big tick because we need both head coaches working together.
“It wasn’t a relegation, just a
case, and Rob was willing to be wherever he needed to be to help the group.”
As a coaching duo, Sleaford and Jansen steered the Seahawks to the second-best defensive record in the statewide QBL competition in 2019.
A failure to match that back-court starch with offensive firepower saw the side miss out on the playoffs after starting on a 5-0 winning streak.
The 4-9 conclusion to the season forced officials’ hands with an off-season coaching reshuffle.
“Paula has state and national experience with junior and senior programs, so she’s been a welcome addition to our women’s program,” Vale said.
“She’s been around the game for a long time and now finds herself on the Gold Coast. Her resume was a nobrainer because she knows how to nurture juniors and can handle the professional side of things.
“We want a strong link for our juniors to have that pathway and Paula is part of that process.”
Adam Tyrus will continue as the Seahawks’ Queensland State League – formerly the Queensland Basketball League – head coach.
Justin Andrews will juggle responsibilities as head coach of the men’s SBL side and assisting Tyrus.