Basketball Australia have announced the coaching team for the Boomers World Cup Qualification games to be held in Japan in February.

Bronze medal winning head coach Brian Goorjian will remain with the Illawarra Hawks during the window, handing the coaching reigns to NBL championship winner Rob Beveridge.

“There is no doubt for me that Rob’s international experience and his extensive work developing emerging talent will be integral to our success in Japan. He’ll be well supported by Mike and Robbie who have a great understanding of the elite emerging talent in the NBL” said Goorjian.

Beveridge started his NBL coaching career with the West Sydney Razorbacks before moving to the Perth Wildcats where he saw championship success in 2009.

'Bevo' moved abroad to coach the Shanghai Sharks in China before returning to the NBL as head coach of the Illawarra Hawks until 2019. Most recently he has been head coach of the Southland Sharks in the NZNBL.

"Being appointed as Head Coach for the Boomers has been a life time goal, albeit just for this small window and for this I am extremely grateful.” said Beveridge.

“Representing your country is the ultimate honour and to be given an opportunity to lead the Boomers against Chinese Taipei and Japan is an absolute privilege.  I sincerely want to thank Basketball Australia and Brian Goorjian for their belief that I can lead our country during this FIBA Window.”

“I am sure that our coaching staff, support staff and the team that we assemble in these very trying times will represent the Boomers with distinction and do everyone proud.”

Beveridge will be joined by Perth Wildcats Assistant Coach and NBL legend Mike Kelly as well as Robbie McKinlay (Head Coach at the Centre of Excellence), and 2016 NBL Coach of the Year Shawn Dennis who is now head coach of the Shiga Lakestars in Japan.

For previous FIBA qualifiers the NBL have applied a weekend “bye for the league” however the re-scheduling of so many games due to COVID has made this option unviable for February. The NBL are working closely with Basketball Australia to ensure we have the best representation of players in Japan.

The FIBA qualifiers will be held in Okinawa, Japan.

Games Schedule

25 February       Australia v Chinese Taipei
26th February   Australia v Japan
28 February       Australia v Chinese Taipei