BBF seeks new GB coaches and team managers for 2025 FIBA Youth EuroBasket campaigns

The British Basketball Federation (BBF) is delighted to announce that it is recruiting Coaches and Team Managers for its Great Britain teams ahead of the 2025 FIBA Youth EuroBasket tournament.

The exciting positions currently open are for our U20 Women, U18 Men and U16 Men Head Coaches as well as Assistant Coaches and Team Managers for all age groups, ranging from U16 to U20 for both Men and Women.

The successful candidates will be able to support Great Britain’s youth players in achieving the desired objectives, to provide an effective and progressive pathway for them to develop and excel.

Recruitment opens for roles from Monday 21 October and closes on 4 November, with short-listing and interviews taking place in November and announcement of successful candidates early December

A separate process will take place for Physio/Sports Therapists and S&C coaches.

The recruitment pack can be read here.

British Basketball Federation Performance Lead, Fiona Pimblett, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with our incredible GB Youth Team staff in 2024. The commitment and passion all of the staff have for supporting and developing our young talented players never ceases to amaze me.

“Once again, we are excited to recruit our staffing teams ahead of 2025, giving as much time as possible for the teams to prepare. I hope to see lots of our 2023 and 2024 staff return and apply for roles but I’m equally looking forward to welcoming applications from people who have worked with GB teams in years previous or are new to the GB Pathways.

“I’m keen to ensure that we are recruiting staff who are able to deliver the most impactful and positive programmes for the players, but also those who seek international Basketball development opportunities and experiences. As the BBF continues to evolve, I’m looking for us to be able to provide a holistic learning environment for our staff as well as our players.”

Coaching trio to return to fold

In addition, the British Basketball Federation have announced that three head coaches will be retained ahead of next summer’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket tournaments.

Guiding the U16 Women to promotion to Division A in 2024, Donnie MacDonald will continue his reign as the U16 Women head coach in a bid to maintain GB’s place in the top division.

MacDonald masterminded the Women to a third placed finish last summer in Division B,

Krumesh Patel will continue as U18 Women’s coach, having led the side to a solid sixth placed finish in Division B as it looks to its goal for promotion in the summer.

Last year’s U18 Men’s coach Alan Keane will also continue his duties as national team coach, but this time leading the U20 Men, picking up where he left off with the group of players he coached in 2023 as U18’s.

On their appointments, MacDonald said: “It’s great to be given the opportunity to work with the GB U16 women again. The responsibility to coach the youngest national team age group and start them out on their international basketball journey is a great honour.

“We have a lot of work ahead to prepare the team for a campaign in Division A, but with that also comes the excitement about being able to test our team against the best in Europe.”

Keane said: “It is very exciting to work again with the 2005/06 generation of British basketball players. A talented, hard working and cohesive group who will show up to give what they can for the name on the front of the GB jersey everytime. 

“Combining players we had from two years ago at U18 (2023), returners from the U20’s in 2024 and the inevitability of new players coming through, makes for a very bright future both next summer and longer term with Great Britain senior men’s team. 

“Personally speaking, the opportunities that GB Basketball affords me as a coach are something I will always value in terms of my growth as a coach and service to the British basketball community. I will approach this campaign with as much energy and commitment as I can, taking the learnings from previous years’ experience and the support of the Federation.”

Patel said: “Excited with opportunity to be back with U18s, the girls and staff did excellent work last year and this gives us something to build on.

The U16s doing exceptionally well and moving up, it’s an exciting group to work with moving into the summer. The Federation is moving in the right direction in many aspects so that’s exciting to see.”