Miners women score new coach

ROB Baker is returning to the Ballarat Miners for the 2023 NBL1 South season as head coach of the women’s side.

Baker has experience coaching various levels of basketball, from the Victorian Junior Basketball League to NBL1 as an assistant.

“I’m excited for the future of the Miners and to develop a strong Ballarat-based squad,” he said.

“I’m thrilled to be getting this opportunity in my hometown, coaching players I’ve had the privilege of coaching from under-12s to adults.”

With the preseason training period approaching, Baker said the focus for 2023 will be on “planting the seeds for the future,” skilling up local athletes, and bringing back some well-loved “adopted” Miners players.

“The plan for each and every game is for our fans to see familiar faces, playing the Ballarat way, taking it up to the country’s best.

“I am keen to get the Miners back to their home-grown roots, have the fans fill up Selkirk Stadium weekly, and walk away proud of the team we have put together and developed,” Baker said.

Basketball Ballarat senior elite committee member Lynly Doherty said Baker has a passion for the city’s basketball community.

“His dedication to being an ongoing student of the game has shown he is willing to develop and grow with the game,” she said.

“Rob has coached at many levels of both the men’s and women’s program in Ballarat and we are really pleased to appoint Rob as the women’s NBL1 head coach for 2023.”

Basketball Ballarat director of coaching Luke Sunderland said Baker has a strong vision which complements the organisation’s values and goals for the senior elite women.

“Rob’s passion for the club and the City of Ballarat is already evident to me and I look forward to getting started alongside him for our respective pre-seasons and into a successful 2023 season,” he said.