Spirited coach moves to Miners

HEAD coach of WNBL side Bendigo Spirit, Kennedy Kereama, is moving to Ballarat to make his next mark in the NBL1 South competition.

The Ballarat Miners have employed Kereama as high-performance director, and their women’s head coach, from next season until the end of 2026.

“I am ecstatic to be joining the Miners team as it presents an incredible opportunity for me to make a positive impact on the growth of a robust program while collaborating with exceptional local players and coaches,” he said.

“I am particularly thrilled to work closely with Abbey Wehrung during the NBL1 offseason in the WNBL, as her leadership, experience and skills will undoubtedly contribute to our success both on and off the court next season.

“The alignment of Ballarat’s values and visions, combined with the unique dual role that allows me to balance my WNBL involvement and quality time with my family, is a perfect fit for my current circumstances.

“Furthermore, I am eagerly looking forward to building a highly competitive NBL1 program over time, showcasing the immense talent within our region and providing a platform for players to thrive and reach their fullest potential.”

Along with time at the Spirit since 2022 Kereama has also had leadership experience with WNBL sides Perth Lynx and Canberra Capitals, and the New Zealand national team the Tall Ferns.

“The Senior Elite Teams Committee, alongside CEO Nevile Ivey set ourselves the challenge of finding not only a head coach for the Miners NBL1 Women’s team but someone who could take our program to the next level,” committee chair, Nathan Oldaker said.

“We believe we have found such a person.”