The National Basketball League is pleased to announce that an Expert Coaches Clinic will be held at the 2015 NBL Blitz, featuring a line-up of marquee coaches including Australian Boomers Head Coach Andrej Lemanis and Tall Blacks Head Coach Paul Henare. The coaching experts will be offering their insights and techniques this weekend during the NBL’s annual pre-season tournament. Joining Lemanis and Henare will be experienced NBL coaches Shawn Dennis (Head Coach – Townsville Crocodiles) and Aaron Fearne (Head Coach – Cairns Taipans). The Clinic will be held on Saturday 26 September 2015 from 9am – 11am at the Townsville Basketball Centre (Murray Stadium). Admission is free, register here: http://www.basketballqld.com.au/coach-development. The Clinic is organised in collaboration with the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC), the NBL and Basketball Queensland. WABC President Patrick Hunt is delighted with the collaboration. “This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to observe these exceptional coaches in action, sharing and demonstrating their coaching methods, techniques and drills for coaches at all levels. The WABC is very pleased to be able to support this initiative of the NBL and Basketball Queensland,” said Mr. Hunt. “The NBL is committed to supporting the growth and development of the sport of basketball in Australia and we are excited to be able to provide this special opportunity to learn from these highly accomplished coaches,” said NBL Head of Basketball Operations Bret Mactavish. High Performance Director for Basketball Queensland, Leonard King said: “Basketball Queensland couldn’t be happier to co-host the 2015 NBL Blitz Coaches Clinic.  The coaches are well organised, professional in their approach and provide modern concepts of play, which will stimulate coaches’ thinking processes and challenge our coaches’ current practices. “Coaches attending the Clinic can expect fresh ideas on how to teach the game, strategies to connect with their athletes and effective ways to teach the fundamentals of the game. This is a Clinic not to be missed!” Limited seating is available, therefore coaches planning to attend should register as soon as possible to secure a seat for this unique opportunity.

Shawn Dennis: Head Coach - Townsville Crocodiles Clinic Topic: Drills for Creating Disruptive Defence

Shawn Dennis is heading into his third season as head coach of the Townsville Crocodiles. Prior to joining the Crocodiles, Shawn was the Assistant Coach for the Perth Wildcats for three seasons under Rob Beveridge, helping the Wildcats to two Grand Final appearances. From 1997 to 1999, Shawn led the Newcastle Falcons as Head Coach in his first taste of the top job in the National Basketball League. Along with his extensive experience in the NBL, Dennis also coached in the NZNBL for seven seasons, winning a Championship with the Hawkes Bay Hawks in 2006.  He also has international experience, coaching the New Zealand Women’s National Team.

Aaron Fearne: Head Coach - Cairns Taipans Clinic Topic: Strategies Behind Defensive Rotation Off-Defensive Penetration

Aaron Fearne has held the position of head coach of the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans since 2009, and in his six years at the helm has led the club to two Grand Final appearances (2011, 2015). Fearne is the all-time longest-serving coach of the Taipans (178 games at the close of the 2014/15 season) and in 2015 became the first Taipans coach to win the Lindsay Gaze Trophy for NBL Coach of the Year. The honour followed a record-breaking 2014/15 season, his Taipans storming their way to a team-best 21-7 and earning the honour of becoming the first regional team in 30 years to claim the NBL minor premiership.

Paul Henare: Head Coach - New Zealand Tall Blacks & Assistant Coach - New Zealand Breakers Clinic Topic: Drills to Develop Ball Screen Offence

Paul Henare is the only SKY CITY Breaker to have won a Championship as a player and a coach with the club. As a player Paul was the first Breaker to have his singlet retired following the club’s first Championship win in 2010. Paul appeared in 250 games over an eight season playing career with the club. This season will be his third year on the SKY CITY Breakers coaching staff roster. He coached the Southland Sharks to the New Zealand NBL Championship in 2013 and again in 2015.

Andrej Lemanis: Head Coach - Australian Boomers Clinic Topic: Practice Habits: Creating a Competitive Culture

Lemanis began his own head coaching career with the New Zealand Breakers in 2005. It was here that Lemanis would build a program that would be the envy of the competition. Lemanis led the club to their first NBL Championship in 2011, repeating the success in 2012 and 2013 – becoming just the second coach after the legendary Brian Goorjian to win three consecutive NBL titles. During this time, Lemanis won two Lindsay Gaze Trophies for NBL Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2013. These efforts in the NBL didn’t go unnoticed on the international scene, with then Australian Boomers Head Coach Brett Brown inviting Lemanis to join the program as an Assistant Coach in 2009. Lemanis served alongside Brown at the 2010 FIBA World Championships and 2012 London Olympic Games, taking charge of the team for the 2012 home series against China in Brown’s absence. In April 2013 Lemanis was appointed Head Coach of the Australian Boomers, leading the team to series win at the Sino-Australia Challenge over China. This was the start of a busy period for the new boss, leading the Emerging Boomers to their first ever medal at the 2013 World University Games in Russia. In August 2015 Lemanis coached the Boomers to win the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championships beating New Zealand to earn Australia’s ticket to the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics.