Willetton Tigers’ stalwart Craig Friday has been announced as the new head coach of Australia’s senior men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams.
Speaking to Examiner Newspapers, Friday said he was looking forward to leading both teams to victory in 2021.
“I am very honoured and excited – a great challenge lies ahead, and I will need to organised and prepared,” he said.
“We have had a few plans in place that have fallen through, due to the obvious issues that have affected everyone.
“The national League will be an important aspect in our build-up, which we are working to get up-and-running around April/May this year.
“The other challenge will be to get some quality players back from overseas.
“There’s lots of work to do.”
Friday will lead both teams into the 2021 Paralympic Games, held from August 24 to September 5 in Tokyo, Japan.
“Last year’s cancellation obviously was disappointing, but we moved on pretty quickly,” he said.
“We have maintained our focus on doing what we can, when we can…when the chance comes, we will be ready.”
Basketball Australia’s head of wheelchair basketball, Leigh Gooding, said Friday was the right man for the job.
“Craig has done an outstanding job with the Rollers (Australia’s men’s side) since being appointed as head coach in 2017, and we believe he is the right person to take our women’s program forward,” he said.
“He will be supported in this dual role by a strong and experienced coaching unit for the two teams.
“We are excited to see what both programs can deliver over the coming years.”
