Tara Murray
Andrew Seidel is returning to the coaching hot seat after being appointed Melton Thoroughbreds’ Big V women’s coach for next year’s division 2 season.
Seidel coached the Sunbury Jets youth league girls team to back-to-back championships in 2017-18, but was surprisingly not reappointed to lead the side in the Youth league championships division for the first time.
After two years out of coaching, Seidel decided he wanted to get back into coaching and successfully applied for the Melton women’s role.
Seidel said the COVID-19 break, which resulted in limited basketball this year had played a role in getting him back into basketball.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t reappointed after two championships at Sunbury and I had to walk away from coaching as there wasn’t any jobs,” he said.
“I’ve had the passion and the bite to coach again the last month or two. I applied for a couple of jobs and got this one.
“During COVID I missed basketball.”
Seidel has just built a brand new house in the Melton municipality, which played a factor in applying for the role.
He replaces Lauren Olcorn, who stood down as coach. Olcorn was instrumental in getting women’s Big V program back up and running in Melton.
The side was reestablished in 2018 after folding at the end of 2010.
“Lauren stepped away due to some family commitments and decided to not go on with the role,” Seidel said.
“I want to see if we can develop the side even further and get it up into division 1.”
Seidel said he knew a couple of players from this year’s squad, having previously coached them at Sunbury.
He said he would look to recruit a few players to the club to help strength the side. He said it would possibly be a slightly different side to the last couple of years.
“The foundations are there.”
The club has also announced Adrian Adams as the youth league women’s coach. The club was due to have a yough league girls team for the first time this year, before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Seidel said it was exciting to see the pathway being established at the club.
“I’ve had experience coaching youth league and getting a pathway and somewhere to move up to, gives them a bit more incentive.
“Hopefully they’ll stay around and play women’s.”
Seidel said he can’t wait to get things underway, when restrictions ease. He said at this time of year they would normally be working on fitness work.
“I’m excited,” he said. “I’m someone with fresh ideas and new to the club.
“Hopefully the club is heading in the right direction and I’m extremely excited about this new opportunity.”
