A NEW era begins for the Wanneroo Wolves men’s team on Saturday night when coaches Phil Doherty and Mark Shipley take the helm.
The Wolves are at home to Kalamunda in Round 1 of the 2010 State Basketball League season, which tips off this weekend. Doherty was appointed Wolves head coach late last year, replacing Mick Downer, and Shipley joined him as an assistant shortly after.
Doherty played with Australian teams that won silver at the under-19 world championships (1995) and gold two years later at the U21 event.
His senior playing career included stints in China and Austria, as well as the NBL with the Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets.
In 2000, Doherty was a recipient of the Australian Sports Medal for sporting achievement and last season was an assistant coach at Perry Lakes.
Shipley, a teacher and “basketball junkie” according to Wolves president Ryan Hunter, cut his coaching teeth in UK leagues.
Last season, Wolves finished third but went straight out in the quarter-finals after being defeated 2-0 by Perry Lakes in the best of three series.
The Wolves will unleash new recruits Seb Salinas and Reece Langford, who both played with Stirling Senators last season.
Import John Smith comes up from Southwest Slammers, while also in the squad is Isaac Offereins, who played in the Wolves’ under-23 side that made the grand final last year.
Craig Friday and Donna Cuperus remain in charge of the Wolves’ women’s team and improved defence is likely to be a focus this season.
Wanneroo scraped into the finals with the poorest defensive record of the top eight sides but also bowed out 2-0 to Perry Lakes in the quarter finals.
Recruits include Rebecca Mercer, Kelly Borthwick, Ainsleigh Sanders and Alex Kerr, while Wolves juniors Megan Lee, Taylor Bestry and Tahli Raftery have also joined the squad.
The double-header at Joondalup Basketball Stadium begins at 6pm with the women’s match, followed by the men’s match at 8pm.