BBF ANNOUNCES ASSISTANT COACHES AND TEAM MANAGERS FOR YOUTH SIDES
The British Basketball Federation (BBF) is happy to announce the addition of 12 assistant coaches and 6 team managers across our six age groups ahead of next summer’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket tournaments.
The BBF confirms the appointment of Kent Crusaders’ Oli Parr and Barking Abbey’s Lauren Milligan as assistant coaches to Krumesh Patel’s U18 Women’s side.
Bristol Flyers’ Chris Bourne and Cardiff’s Ieuan Jones have been appointed as assistant coaches to Goran Lojo for the U18 Men, with City of London Academy’s Jay Williams and Chris Caird assisting head coach Alan Keane in the U20 Men.
“I am really pleased to have the opportunity to be involved with the GB setup,” said Bourne.
“I was honoured to have the opportunity to be part of the under-20 team, so there is tremendous joy in being back again, and I am really keen to get started and get to work.”
Rheanne Bailey, who has been a pillar in coaching around Manchester, will join forces with Londoner Maisie Elston to work alongside Sarah Hopkins-Chery’s U20 Women.
Edinburgh-based Craig Nicol and Steve Miknis will link up with U16 Men’s head coach Liam Jefferson, Nottingham Wildcats’ Siobhan Prior, and University of St. Andrews’ Callum Knox, assistants to Donnie MacDonald.
“Representing Great Britain has always given me enormous amounts of pride,” Prior said.
“I grew up with parents who had represented national teams. I remember, when I was about four, being in a restaurant with the then England Senior Women’s team, sitting on Tracy Killingly’s knee, next to Louise Cook and watching my dad singing the national anthem to commemorate his first cap as assistant coach for the senior women.
“Those experiences still sit with me and understanding what has come before makes me very proud to be a current working member of the GB family.
“I am looking forward to the challenges that Division A will inevitably bring. Guiding a group of young people through challenge and helping them to sit in the uncomfortable moments of their growth is why I love to coach. This summer will be no different. We will be challenged, and we will grow. Of those two things I’m certain.”
Alongside the announcement of our assistant coaches, the BBF is also pleased to announce the team managers for this summer.
Ruchae Walton continues as team manager for the U20 Men, Howard Leighton will link up with the U18 Men, Gavin Naylor will remain with the U16 Men.
For the women’s side, Charlotte Redhead joins the U20 Women, Honor Campbell will continue with the U18 Women, and Hannah Shaw joins the U16 Women.
“It’s been a great recruitment process this year to fill our coaching and team manager roles for the GB youth teams,” said BBF Consultant Performance Lead Fiona Pimblett.
“I’m really happy to see so many ex-GB players returning and continuing with the GB family. We had a huge number of applicants again for assistant coaching roles, and it’s been a competitive process as we look to ensure each team has the right blend of coaching experience, specialty, and range of skill sets depending on the team they’re working with.
“A big objective for us this year is to ensure we can provide more developmental support for all of our staff, something we’ve not always been equipped to do in the past. We’re looking to ensure that the GB Youth teams are a pathway for our staff as well as the players and we’ll be starting to work closer with the staff to understand their individual developmental journeys more.
“It’s brilliant to see four returning team managers, along with two not-so-new faces joining them. Honor, Charlotte, Gavin and Ruchae all did an incredible job last year with GB Youth teams and it’s really exciting to have Howard and Hannah joining them, with the fantastic amount of experience they both have in the game in different areas.”
The BBF will announce the roles of S&C, physio, and sports therapists over the coming weeks.
| Name | Position |
| Alan Keane | Head Coach – U20 Men |
| Jay Williams | Assistant Coach – U20 Men |
| Chris Caird | Assistant Coach – U20 Men |
| Ruchae Walton | Team Manager – U20 Men |
| Name | Position |
| Sarah Hopkins-Chery | Head Coach – U20 Women |
| Rheanne Bailey | Assistant Coach – U20 Women |
| Maisie Elston | Assistant Coach – U20 Women |
| Charlotte Redhead | Team Manager – U20 Women |
| Name | Position |
| Goran Lojo | Head Coach – U18 Men |
| Chris Bourne | Assistant Coach – U18 Men |
| Ieuan Jones | Assistant Coach – U18 Men |
| Howard Leighton | Team Manager – U18 Men |
| Name | Position |
| Krumesh Patel | Head Coach – U18 Women |
| Oli Parr | Assistant Coach – U18 Women |
| Lauren Milligan | Assistant Coach – U18 Women |
| Honor Campbell | Team Manager – U18 Women |
| Name | Position |
| Liam Jefferson | Head Coach – U16 Men |
| Craig Nicol | Assistant Coach – U16 Men |
| Steve Mikinis | Assistant Coach – U16 Men |
| Gavin Naylor | Team Manager – U16 Men |
| Name | Position |
| Donnie MacDonald | Head Coach – U16 Women |
| Siobhan Prior | Assistant Coach – U16 Women |
| Callum Knox | Assistant Coach – U16 Women |
| Hannah Shaw | Team Manager – U16 Women |
Photo: Bristol Flyers