National Coach Profiles

Australian Men (Boomers) Coach – Brian Goorjian

Brian Goorjian is the most successful coach of Australian basketball with a total of 6 NBL championship wins and a 70% winning record over 700+ games. In 2009, his first season as coach of the South Dragons, he steered the team from the bottom of the ladder to a remarkable Grand Final triumph. Brian also coached the Australian Men’s National Team, the Boomers, during two Olympic Games and one World Championship.

Brian was the coach of the Australian National Basketball men’s team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The team, the Boomers, won the Bronze medal and it was Australia’s first Olympic medal in men’s basketball.

Australian Women (Opals) Coach – Sandy Brondello

Sandy is Australian Opals basketball coach, and the current head coach of the New York Liberty of the WNBA. Brondello played in Australia, Germany and the WNBA before retiring to become a coach. The 5 ft 7 Brondello, is one of Australia’s all-time best shooting guards. She played on Australia’s “Opals” national team at four Summer Olympics, and won three medals (one bronze, two silvers).

In her inaugural season, Brondello led the Phoenix Mercury – which featured a former Opals teammate, Penny Taylor – to the league’s top record and highest single-season win total in WNBA history, with 29 wins and 5 losses, earning her a Coach of the Year Award. The Mercury eventually won the 2014 WNBA Finals by sweeping the Chicago Sky.

Sandy was the coach of the Australian National Basketball women’s team at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The team, the Opals, won the Bronze medal in front of a raucous home crowd.

Australian Men Wheelchair (Rollers) Coach – Craig Friday

Australian Women Wheelchair (Gliders) Coach – Craig Campbell 

Mens Able Bodied 3×3 – Dave Biwer

Womens Able Bodied 3×3 – Damon Lowery

Para 3×3 – Nick Such