Hedley back at Riders for new season
NEW HEAD COACH APPOINTED FOR WOMEN’S TEAM
GUARD Justin Hedley is returning to Leicester Riders for the 2021-22 season after making his debut for the club last season.
Hedley, who is studying at Loughborough University, will be in head coach Rob Paternostro’s 12-man squad for the new season starting next month.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Riders for another season,” said Hedley.
“We’re all really looking forward to meeting with the fans again.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity that both the Riders and Loughborough University have given me.”
Paternostro recognises what Hedley can bring to the team,
“Justin is a young player that continues to put the work in to improve. We have been really impressed with his work ethic,” he said.
“He has had a great summer working hard with our strength and conditioning team.
“He has great size and strength at the guard position and has shown great ability to defend on the perimeter.”
Hedley has dual citizenship, having a British passport alongside his German heritage.
Riders managing director Russell Levenston has spoken about their partnership with Loughborough University.
He said: “We are really happy to have Justin with us again next season.
“We have a great partnership with Loughborough University, and we are able to provide players like Justin with a professional environment, alongside his studies.”
Meanwhile, American Derrick Washington, right, has been appointed as head of the Leicester Riders Women’s programme for the 2021-22 WBBL season.
Washington takes over after a hugely successful spell by Swede Jesper Sundberg, which included a WBBL Cup victory last season for Riders’ women, and a second-place finish in the WBBL Championship.
Washington, formally head coach and director for the Norwood Flames in NBL 1, Central in Australia and a Minnesota
State University graduate, is looking ahead to preseason and to getting his team on the court.
“As a professional coach I pride myself in being able to build relationships with everyone and to be a connector of people,” said Washington.
“Joining the Leicester Riders is a great fit for me because it’s such a connected, family-type organisation. “My mentality coming into this head coach position is to have a day-to-day growth mindset. “If you can grow day to day and get better, then the end result will take care of itself. “My goal is to not only continue the great success and tradition the Riders have built over the years but to help develop players to become better.”
Levenston said: “I’m really excited about Derrick joining Leicester Riders as the Women’s Head Coach for the WBBL programme and the Loughborough University BUCS 1st team.
“For a young coach he brings a lot of experience to the club, coaching at a high level in America and the WNBA, through to head-coaching in Australia.
“We are really excited for him to bring his energy to the Riders Women’s programme for next season.”
Marg Jones, below, will join Washington’s coaching team this season as assistant coach for the WBBL team and will head up the Women’s Charnwood Academy Programme based out of Loughborough.
Jones, formally the Riders’ Division 1 Head Coach and Assistant WBBL Coach, returns to the Riders after three years back home in Canada coaching in elite women’s basketball.
Levenston said: “Everyone at the club is excited to have Marg back at the Riders programme.
“She was influential working alongside Krumesh Patel in the Riders Women’s programme, and is now back as Head Coach for the Charnwood Academy.
“She brings an enormous amount of experience from Canada and her role with GB Under-20s. As a club, we are very excited for the season ahead.”