TRAVEL, SLEEP-INS ALL RIGHT BY ABBY Fire mentor gets used to the heat
TOWNSVILLE Fire coach Shannon Seebohm knows all about making the most of every opportunity that comes your way, especially the most unexpected ones.
Seebohm joined the Fire this season following the sudden departure of championship-winning mentor Claudia Brassard, who stepped down to pursue a career opportunity outside of basketball.
Brassard’s long association with the Fire stretched back to her playing days and she still had two years left on her deal, leading to a national search for a replacement when Seebohm jumped at the chance.
Seebohm, his wife Jaimee, and their two children Millah, 4, and Lucas, 1, packed up their life in Newcastle and made the 1946km journey to Townsville and he said they hadn’t looked back.
“Absolutely it was (a big move). We were very happy where we were and very comfortable, but these opportunities don’t come around every day,” Seebohm said.
“Being a professional coach is what I want to be able to do so I’m very fortunate to have such a supportive wife who was happy to pack up our life and move to Townsville.
“It’s a great community and a beautiful place to live. The weather’s going to take a bit of getting used to for me, but I’ve loved it so far and so has my family.
“I just hope I can repay the club and all the people that support the team with some success.”
Coaching was never in Seebohm’s plans when he was an Australian under-19 representative and NBL player with the Souths Dragons before a serious health scare in 2007.
He suffered a heart attack while training with the Dragons that forced him to retire as a player, but the now 30-year-old has gone on to build an impressive resume behind the clipboard.
He was named the WNBL coach of the year with the Sydney Flames in his rookie season in 2014/15, coached Australia to gold and bronze at the last two under-17 world championships, and guided the Newcastle Hunters to the Waratah League championship earlier this year.
The Fire are also thriving under Seebohm’s tutelage, even after a disrupted pre-season which left them with just half of their 10-player roster due to injuries and international commitments.
Belgian import Julie Vanloo has described Seebohm as one of the best coaches she’s played under while captain and 204-game veteran Micaela Cocks said she learnt something new every session.
Seebohm said that support from the playing group had him excited about the Fire’s potential this season, despite opening their campaign with an 81-72 loss to the Southside Flyers last weekend.
“From day one they’ve bought in, they’ve been really receptive to my coaching,” he said.
“We’ve got a few things to iron out after round one … but I think in terms of the group overall, they get along really well on and off the court and everyone cares about competing.
“I think if we can harness that and play with a bit more discipline we’ll have a chance to beat some of the maybe higher ranked teams.”
Seebohm takes the coaching reins during a significant rebuilding phase for the Fire after losing Brassard as well as superstar captain and six-time WNBL MVP Suzy Batkovic.
A consistent championship threat after winning three titles in four years, the Fire also missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2010/11.
Seebohm didn’t shy away from the Fire’s expectation for success and said he felt fortunate to be part of such a professional WNBL club.
“This club expects success so just because there was a down year last year ... I think the expectation is still for us to make the playoffs,” the coach said.
“The league’s probably the most talented that I can remember in a long time so it’s a great challenge in front of us.
“We’re going to have to take each day as it comes and make sure we improve every step along the way and give ourselves a chance at the end of the year to be here.
“I feel super fortunate to have the opportunity to coach in a league as great as this one and do something that I love as a job.”