Molloy takes over as Ferns coach

New Tall Ferns coach Guy Molloy is licking his lips at the prospect of battling his home country for gold at the upcoming Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Basketball New Zealand, going for quality over nationality, announced Melbourne-based Molloy as the new Tall Ferns coach on Tuesday, with the well credentialed Aussie pledging to make an immediate impact in his first assignment with the team.

Molloy succeeds Kennedy Kereama as head coach of the New Zealand women’s programme, and the experienced Victorian sees the upcoming Commonwealth Games as the perfect opportunity to set his stall out with the underdog Kiwis.

‘‘The Opals will be going hard for gold, particularly at home,’’ he said. ‘‘Any first tournament for a coach with a new team is a great way to establish your game style and a great way to talent ID and instil the values you want to have.

‘‘For me it’s a really important one. I want to get off to a great start and want to build our culture.’’

Molloy is coach of the Melbourne Boomers in the Australian WNBL, guiding them to the grand final series this year. He is a sixtime WNBL finalist, two-time coach of the year, and previously led the Perth Breakers (now the Perth Lynx) to the grand final in 1993.

He was also assistant coach with the Australian Opals between

1990 and 1994.

In men’s basketball, Molloy coached the fledgling Cairns Taipans in the Australian NBL from 2000-05, leading the club to its maiden finals appearance in 2004. He was assistant coach on four NBL grand final teams from

1997-2000, and a South Dragons ANBL championship team in

2008-2009. Molloy also led the Australian under 17 men’s team to a silver medal at the junior World Cup in 2012, and the Australian under

21 men’s team to the FIBA World Cup semifinals in 2004.

He gathers the Tall Ferns for their first training camp this weekend in Melbourne where they will launch preparations for the Gold Coast.