Isaac
Years ago

Brondello announced as new Opals coach

Basketball Australia is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sandy Brondello as the coach of the Australian Opals with the signing marking the start of the four-year road to the Tokyo Olympics.

"I am very honoured to be selected for the role of Opals head coach," Brondello said.

"I am beyond excited about the opportunity and I look forward to being back with the Opals team and building towards success in Tokyo.”

Brondello brings a wealth of experience to the role through her time at the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, a team she led to the Championship in 2014 when she was also named the league's Coach of the Year.

Her commitment to the Mercury will remain, with Basketball Australia and Phoenix agreeing to terms which will allow Brondello to share her time appropriately.

“We are enormously grateful for the support of the Mercury organisation in Sandy’s appointment” said Basketball Australia CEO, Anthony Moore.

“This is a fantastic acquisition for the Opals with Sandy owning an intimate knowledge of both the Opals and the international game. We are confident this will ensure we remain as one of the top basketball countries in the world.”

Brondello will commence in the role as head coach of the Opals from 1 May.

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Luuuc  
Years ago

Well she is certainly an upgrade in terms of coaching ability, and I'm glad to hear that she was able to come to an arrangement with the Phoenix Mercury.

I still see her Ekaterinburg coaching role as an issue though (or maybe they are tired of underachieving and are going with someone else next season anyway?)

Reply #633731 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

anything would be an upgrade (well almost anything) from Joyce, and Brondello is certainly a fabulous pick BUT how are BA going to budget this one out, 30 in the Opals squad, vast majority are based here, but even those who are not most will still require international flights to be paid for, plus accommodation, its not like they have the Cof E with its ready made facilities in Phoenix. Plus the cost of camp staff, meals, and team physios etc, they will blow the budget very quickly , or they will be pulling money from other areas of BA programs which in the long run effects basketball overall.

great in theory but not so much a practical or a financially good move if shes staying put to keep her job with the WNBA.

Reply #633733 | Report this post


Anon  
Years ago

Certainly an upgrade from Joyce.
BUT
That job was advertised as full time and the new coach will be coaching at the new Asian Games tournament it advertised. It also said that this coach won't have to coach at the Comm Ganes. So now it's not full time and now won't be coaching at the Asian Games, what is she actually coaching.
PLUS we now have to lug everyone over to Phoenix for our camps.
I think this is looking like yet another big fat screw up by BA.
Jan Stirling instilling her Bad appointments yet again.
Thank goodness she's left Adelaide.

Reply #633736 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

âgree totally, how can you have a head coach who cant coach at the main tournaments, makes absolutely no sense what so ever,how can she even select players to go to these camps if shes not there to see them play, or is it another case of nepotism at its finest.

has the opals squad been announced yet, its just over two weeks from the first camp IN Phoenix

Bondello is a great coach, but the program needs a full time coach who IS available for all camps and training's not one that fits the Opals in when they can .
Understandably she wouldn't want to give up her WNBA gig, so why on earth was she even considered.
Jan Sterling has potentially stuffed the opals program yet again. Isn't their a committee that can see common sense or is it purely a one man(woman) show.

Reply #633741 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

How many potential opals are currently in the WNBA
and Europe?

Reply #633742 | Report this post


Very Old  
Years ago

Very glad Sandy is in charge. should have been there 4 years ago.

Reply #633767 | Report this post


Farcical. Bad appointment given commitment levels.

Yikes.

Reply #633770 | Report this post


Hespect  
Years ago

All that matters are medals at world champs and Olympics.

Selection isn't that hard with most of the best players playing wnba.

Having a full time coach didn't work as you only attract coaches that aren't good enough to have another job.

Hiring the right assistants will be important for the minor tournaments although this is the first good move BA have made on the womens side in a long time.

Reply #633772 | Report this post


Anon  
Years ago

Say what Very Old - Brondello would have been a good pick four years ago!. Holy hell, she wasn't even a head coach four years ago.
Commit to one program, not 2 in the same months.
Very poor of BA to put our Opals in another pickle for another 4 years.
The Opals squad has been announced to the players but not the public. Secret Opals business I'm assuming. This was announced 2 weeks ago. Some very suspect name in the list by all accounts.

Reply #633781 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Anyone know who's in?

Reply #633785 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

She's certainly a good choice for opals coach, but not in this current situation of trying to coach two teams on opposite sides of the world.
The costs are going to go through the roof from a budget that is already depleted.

A national team requires a committed coach who places that commitment before any other sporting ones they may have.

Reply #633788 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

What might the squad look like?

Reply #633789 | Report this post


Very Old  
Years ago

Loove people who don't check that their opinions are not facts.

Sandy was a head coach in the WNBL in 2010 ( 2017 minus 2010 = 7 years ? ( or at least 6)) . Four years ago she was only one year away from the 2014 WNBL coach of the year award.

I think you will find she has more than 4 years experience as a head coach.

Reply #633790 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

But how much of it is Olaf? Another point not discussed yet. Waters will get murkier.

Reply #633795 | Report this post


Very Old  
Years ago

"Bondello is a great coach, but the program needs a full time coach who IS available for all camps and training's not one that fits the Opals in when they can "

LOL , spoken like a true spectator.

Go have a brief look at reality and checkout the coaches who teams (male and female)hold the last sets of Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals from the most recent FIBA woulds and the Olympics.

"A national team requires a committed coach who places that commitment before any other sporting ones they may have."

1) You have never met Sandy if you think that the OPALs won't be the 1st , 2nd and 3rd thing on her basketball mind. If not for Cadee she would have had 5 ( count them ... 5) Olympic campaigns as a player, and not as a bench warmer either. She's well aware of the importance of a seriously smart coach in the womens game.

2) BA would never EVER spend the money that a really good international level womens basketball coach SHOULD be paid for a full time gig over the next 4 years. we already have experienced the best they can afford.

3) do people not get that the majority of the worlds best female players play in the WNBL ( or a few in cashed up Chinese and russian leagues) If we are to ever beat the US, then I'd prefer a coach who sees ( and coaches against) those players, season in and season out, rather than a COE full timer who has a jaunt OS every now and then.

stop whining and get positive, I know that this forum have been used to coaching disasters this century, what with Marty C, He whose son cannot be mentioned and even BB in Sydney, , but lets hope that Sandy will get our women the success they really deserve. Maher and Sterling got good results -- so more of the same is possible, and would be good.

Reply #633796 | Report this post


Very Old  
Years ago

"But how much of it is Olaf? "

1) does it matter? - not to me, but obviously to you.

2) ps , sorry to tell you this but even without Olaf, and without knowing your gender, height, age or athleticism, I know Sandy would beat your arse 5 out of 5 times one-on-one on a court - because you really are one dumb sexist *^&*&*%^$, and basketball has always been a smart persons sport.

Reply #633797 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Very Old calm down, it's well known Olaf & Sandy run as a tandem in both WNBA & Euroleague. So it was a valid question asked re: Opals.

Reply #633802 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Wish Sandy the best but every contact I have had with Stirling leaves me despairing for the future of women's basketball in Australia.

Reply #633809 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Whys that?

Reply #633810 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

For starters "very old" a committed coach WOULD and SHOULD be available for every tournament/ game the national team they are coaching has to play, that really is what they are there for.
This business of BA now going to appoint another coach to coach at the Aisia cup, and then at Commonwealth games should not be happening IF Brondello was fully committed to the team, not just the title of "national" coach.
Could you imagine any other national coach not coaching the team they had been selected to coach for their country at an international,qualifying tournament or something like the Commonwealth games.
Brondello certainly has the credentials and could be a fantastic addition to the Opals program, but she really needs to set her priorities for the next four years to this program, or she should not have agreed IMO

Reply #633811 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I've never been so underwhelmed or so shocked at how completely out of touch she is with the program she is meant to lead.

Reply #633813 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Exactly, she knows nothing about the local scene.

Reply #633815 | Report this post


?  
Years ago

I like this appointment - Sandy will know just about every world class player's game concisely through the WNBA and Euroleague.

Reply #633820 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

whitcomb or Mitchell?

Ohea/Cumming
Allen/Talbot
Tolo/Blicavs
Cambage/George

Pgs, who knows? (Mitchell)
Another guard (Whitcomb)
Another big

Reply #633821 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

As much as I have some mixed feelings about the appointment, one thing I have no concerns about is her knowledge of international women's basketball. In fact there would be few coaches in the world who know it better. Coach of a top Euroleague club over the summer + coach of a WNBA team in the winter = she is familiar with pretty much every player that matters.
If that means she isn't full bottle on the "local scene" then personally I couldn't give a stuff. That's the least of our worries, and is something that an assistant & others can easily chip in with.

Reply #633822 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

So who should be her assistants?

Reply #633823 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Olaf... or is he the head coach?

Reply #633826 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Damien Cotter is a fine coach and the best candidote for the job. He already knows the ropes and is a wicked smart guy.

Why not bring in Jo Hill as another assistant??

Reply #633827 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Who is Olaf??

Reply #633828 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I think if you read the negative comments were about Stirling.

Reply #633829 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Why don't we see how she goes before bagging or adoring her. Can't see why she needs to be full time, wnba doesn't go for 12 months. Prefer our coach to be getting game time practice in best league in world than sitting in Canberra watching game film all day. Gives her a chance to watch and scout main competition in US players as well as her own.
And are training camps apart from when main tournaments are near really that vital. Just have regular get together when schedules allow and concentrate on six months before games. Players are professionals, shouldn't take two years to learn new system.
As for bagging Stirling, she'll forget more about basketball, leadership and accountability in next five minutes than most of us will ever know. Record speaks for itself.

Reply #633837 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The issue is going to be the logistics of getting those players together when the coach is on the other side of the world , the reality is it's going to be a very expensive excersise over the next four years, can BA really afford it?

Reply #633839 | Report this post


Hespect  
Years ago

Opals decisions tend to send people a little bonkers.

Reply #633840 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Chris Lucas is my tip for assistant. He is appointed Uni Games coach which is actually emerging opals. So expect he will get a gig

Reply #633843 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

Sandy Brondello interview from ABC Grandstand

Link

Reply #633845 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

In my opinion Stirling's legacy has been undone by her recent times in a job she is unfit for.

Reply #633857 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The "assistant" will be Olaf no doubt.

Reply #633859 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Yes Olaf probably will be but I still think Lucas will get Aussie based role.

Reply #633867 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Oh hell no. Lucas is terrible.

Both based in nsw
Chambers or Seebohm for interim job please.

Reply #633869 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Yes Chambers would be a good choice for interim/smaller tournaments. Does she want it though?

Who the F is Olaf?

Reply #633871 | Report this post


Hespect  
Years ago

Olaf was great in the movie Frozen.

Reply #633874 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

and in Clerks.

Reply #633878 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Behind every great woman there's a great man.

Reply #633879 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

He has some nice roles on his resume but I'm yet to be impressed by Olaf in the WNBL, WNBA, or Europe. But considering how much of his coaching has been alongside Sandy I guess it does make sense for him to be with the Opals to keep some continuity when Sandy is away.

Reply #633890 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Yet you're impressed with Sandy?

Reply #633893 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I'm hoping Seebohm gets the interim job.

Reply #633894 | Report this post


Camel 31  
Years ago

olaf lange and lauren jackson...

Reply #633903 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Hoping to hear that the Assistant job will be offered to the WNBL coach of the year.

Reply #634577 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Chambers and goriss named opals assistant coaches.

Reply #634698 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Thank goodness Lucas didn't get it. Good appointments I think

Reply #634707 | Report this post


James Harvey fan  
Years ago

I think they got these appointments exactly right tbh.

Reply #634709 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Great news

Reply #634714 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Can this happen with..

Brondello-Mercury
Chambers-Flames
Goriss-Capitals/Gems

Thought gems and Asian cup were playing close to the same time.

Reply #634716 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Boomers-Lemanis(4th Olympics)
Opals-Brondello(takes over from Joyce)
U19 mens-Caporn(poor results 7th + DNQ)
U17 mens-Schueller(takes over from Watkins 1 silver)
U19 women-Goriss(1 bronze)
U17 women-Seebohm(1 gold)

Reply #634717 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Gayporn was talked up but seems to be a massive fail, considering all other programs outside of lolJoyce medalled lately.

Reply #634725 | Report this post




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