New doors open for coaches

FORMER Stingrays coach Tim O’Leary says aspiring coaches at Corio Bay will be exposed to opportunities with Geelong United they wouldn’t have otherwise got.

O’Leary, now the boys’ director of coaching at the Stingrays, said doors would open up for a number of talented coaches at the Stingrays.

“Over the last two or three years, Ainslie Howard has been the assistant coach to the Country Vic team, while the coach of the Country Vic under-16 boys team was at our club for five years, he moved to Ballarat this year — Joel Anderson,” O’Leary said.

“We’ve also had two coaches — Mitch Pendergast and Dan Coles — represent at the Australian Country Junior Championships; they were given the teams that travelled to New Zealand for games of friendlies, which are selected at the Australian Country Junior Basketball tournament in Albury. To me, this is the future of Geelong United.”

O’Leary said he hoped Stingrays coaches would be looked on in the same light as the Supercats’ current VJBL coaches, while he also said there were a number of Youth League basketballers who would now have the opportunity to forge coaching careers.

Dave Herbert, coach of the Supercats’ NBL1 team, believed a number of Stingrays coaches would thrive in the new Geelong United set up.

“To put together Corio’s coaches and referees and administrators, it’s going to be amazing,” he said.

“That’s the exciting part; if we all work together we can do wonderful things for the kids, and ultimately that’s what it’s about. It’s about the kids and the development of players and coaches in the region.

“I hope to play a part in that; who knows what part that is right now.

“I arrived four or five years ago and I’ve been waiting since to see if something like this happens. Working together can only benefit basketball throughout (the region). I can’t wait.”

O’Leary, 60, said he too would be open to taking on another coaching position if the right opportunity became available.