Brian Gorgan, Australian basketball coach, will return as the Australian Boomers coach at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics until 2023 Basketball World Cup
Goorjian will take over as the Boomers prepare to chase their first medal in the postponed Olympics next year, and they hope to win all the NBA stars after the league and players have agreed to start the late season just before Christmas, allowing the season to end before Olympic Games
Long-running coach Andre Lemannis resigned after last year’s World Cup basketball campaign, which saw Boomers take fourth place but lose in overtime with the gold medal.
NBA coach Brett Brown agreed to take on the role of the Boomers exclusively for the Tokyo Olympics while BA looked for a long-term coach but had to quit while looking for his next role in the NBA.
Gorjen, a six-time NBL coach, led the Boomers in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics campaigns before heading to China where he became the longest-serving foreign coach in 11 years in the Chinese Basketball Association
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen Goorjian return home as he will lead NBL The Hawks into the upcoming NBL season and will combine that role with his Boomers’ commitments over the next few years
“I am honored to be the coach of the men’s national team and I look forward to the challenge,” Georgian said in a statement.
“Reuniting with some of the players you previously coached in the Beijing Olympics is an exciting possibility.
“Australia is very fortunate to have such a talented group of athletes at this time. There is definitely a feeling that the business is unfinished, so there is a strong commitment from these players to participate in the Tokyo Olympics
“I will be sitting with Australian basketball in the coming days to get a full understanding of their current plans as we begin the road to Tokyo and beyond.”
“Brian’s success as a coach both locally and internationally, combined with his experience on the Olympic stage made him a prominent candidate for this prestigious role,” said Georgian
“His appointment as the head coach of the men’s national team raises the enthusiasm we feel for the Boomers, not only in Tokyo where we have expectations on the podium but also outside this Olympic campaign.”
Goorjian will meet BA next week to brief him on the team’s road plans to Tokyo while the national team will also hold AFC Basketball Cup qualifiers to complete once those matches resume
Brian Georgen, Australian men’s national basketball team, The Hawks, head coach, Sydney Kings
World News – African Confederation – Georgian’s return as Boomers’ coach amid feeling « unfinished business »