18 September 2025
Kym Cheeseman
Melbourne, Victoria - Basketball Victoria would like to announce the coaching and staff appointments for the 2026 Victorian State Teams. Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Team Managers have now been finalised ahead of another exciting year of national competition.
The 2026 coaching and support staff appointments also reflect Basketball Victoria’s ongoing commitment to gender equity, with women making up 26 of the 65 roles (40%). The appointees bring extensive experience and a shared commitment to driving Victoria’s pathways forward.
Congratulations to the following Coaching staff for their appointments:
Under 20 Women
- - Head Coach - Joe Turner (Casey | Southern Peninsula)
- - Assistant Coach - Tammy Symmons (Sunbury)
- - Assistant Coach - Libby Schoenfeld (Nunawading)
- - Development Coach - Caitlin Bryan (Eltham)
- - Team Manager - Emma Noonan (Frankston)
Under 20 Men
- - Head Coach - Dylan Cole (Keilor | Macedon Ranges)
- - Assistant Coach - Anthony Dimis (Waverley)
- - Assistant Coach - David Quinn (Eltham)
- - Development Coach - Daniel Gianchino (McKinnon)
- - Team Manager - Wayne Bird (BV)
Ivor Burge Women
- - Head Coach - Emily Attard (Bacchus Marsh)
- - Assistant Coach - Madison Smith (Mornington)
- - Assistant Coach - Abbey Smith (Sandringham)
- - Development Coach - Clayton Watt (McKinnon)
- - Team Manager - Sylvia van der Linden (Bacchus Marsh)
Ivor Burge Men
- - Head Coach - Ryan Holloway (BV)
- - Assistant Coach - Adrian Carfora (Bulleen)
- - Assistant Coach - Isaiah Raval (Kilsyth)
- - Development Coach - Ben Fowler (Waverley)
- - Team Manager - Daniel Fabien (Casey)
Country
Under 18 Women
- - Head Coach - Madison Lee (Diamond Valley | Seymour)
- - Assistant Coach - Steph Whatley (Geelong)
- - Assistant Coach - Mat Holmes (Traralgon)
- - Development Coach - Courtney Burke (Geelong)
- - Team Manager - Kira Ryan (Hamilton)
Under 16 Women
- - Head Coach - Carly Stones (Eltham | Seymour)
- - Assistant Coach - Chloe Hogg (Korumburra)
- - Assistant Coach - Tess Denham (Swan Hill)
- - Development Coach - Ebony Doyle (Bendigo)
- - Team Manager - Lisa Chesshire (Terang)
Under 18 Men
- - Head Coach - James McKinnon (Ballarat)
- - Assistant Coach - Ciro Barilla (Keilor)
- - Assistant Coach - Fernando Rios- Rodriguez (BV)
- - Development Coach - Byron Sandeman (Maffra)
- - Team Manager - Ben White (Southern Peninsula)
Under 16 Men
- - Head Coach - Jamie Petty (Diamond Valley | Geelong)
- - Assistant Coach - Darcy Thornton (Southern Peninsula)
- - Assistant Coach - Nathan Cumberland (Mornington)
- - Development Coach - Sam Gebauer (Wodonga)
- - Team Manager - Leo Viitala (Wallan)
Metro
Under 18 Women
- - Head Coach - Jaysn Harvey (Dandenong)
- - Assistant Coach - Kaleb Foster (Knox)
- - Assistant Coach - Cristy McCluskey (Frankston)
- - Development Coach - Amy Quick (Nunawading)
- - Team Manager - Katrina Barry (Dandenong)
Under 16 Women
- - Head Coach - Samantha Thornton (Melbourne)
- - Assistant Coach - Morgan Tolley (Melbourne)
- - Assistant Coach - Braithyn Kerr ( Casey)
- - Development Coach - Santo Fileccia (Whittlesea)
- - Team Manager - Bianca McCulloch (Nunawading)
Under 18 Men
- - Head Coach - Andrew Lim (Sandringham)
- - Assistant Coach - Ben Ahale (Kilsyth)
- - Assistant Coach - Scott Christiansen (Frankston)
- - Development Coach - Mason Gaze (Melbourne)
- - Team Manager - Mark Sainsbery (BV)
Under 16 Men
- - Head Coach - Nathan Geer (McKinnon)
- - Assistant Coach - Rhett Pottenger (Dandenong)
- - Assistant Coach - Will Scatchard (Sunbury)
- - Development Coach - Damon Maurice (Nunawading)
- - Team Manager - Karen Goodman (Dandenong)
Victorian Junior Wheelchair Team
- - Head Coach - Lauren Robinson (Casey)
- - Assistant Coach - Jason Bryant (Wyndham)
- - Assistant Coach - Damian Duke (Wyndham)
- - Development Coach - TBC
- - Team Manager - Kim Hampton (BV)
Staff for the U20 Navy Women’s and Men’s teams will be confirmed pending entry into the 2026 U20 Nationals.
Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey welcomed the announcement, praising both the quality of the appointments and the passion shown by all applicants.
“It’s exciting to see the next generation of Victorian state team coaches and staff members preparing for the 2026 Foot Locker National Championships. This is a testament to the strength and continued growth of Basketball Victoria's Performance Pathway Program.” He added, “I’d like to thank everyone who applied for roles within our state team program. Their dedication to Victorian basketball is commendable. Those selected will be instrumental in driving our teams toward further success.”
Each year, Basketball Victoria sends 15 teams to the Foot Locker National Championships, representing both Country and Metro programs across the Ivor Burge, National Junior Wheelchair and Under-16, Under-18, and Under-20 divisions.
The coaching appointments showcase the strength and depth of Victoria’s coaching talent, with successful candidates demonstrating clear philosophies, that has a strong alignment with Basketball Victoria’s Performance Pathways Programs, and a deep understanding of the athletes and age groups they will lead. The successful candidates were selected following an extensive interview process, supported by the expertise and insight of some of Victoria’s most accomplished coaches:
• Luke Brennan (Assistant Coach, SEM Phoenix and Head Coach, Ballarat NBL1 Men)
• Dee Butler (Head Coach, Diamond Valley NBL1 Women and former Head Coach, Australian Gems)
• Sam Woosnam (Head Coach, Dandenong NBL1 Men)
• Jo Wood (Assistant Coach, Southside Flyers and Head Coach, Frankston NBL1 Women)
We thank them for their valuable contribution to the process.
The announcement follows an exceptional 2025 campaign, where Victoria claimed seven of the nine national titles:
- U20 Men (Navy Men)
- Ivor Burge Women
- Ivor Burge Men
- U18 Women (Vic Metro)
- U18 Men (Vic Country)
- U16 Women (Vic Metro)
- U16 Men (Vic Metro)
This year’s results have cemented Victoria’s reputation as the nation’s leader in pathways development, which we aim to continue into 2026.
Basketball Victoria congratulates all appointed coaches and staff and looks forward to seeing them lead the next wave of Victorian athletes at the 2026 Foot Locker National Championships.
For more information about our Performance Pathways, click below.
