Patrick Hunt

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>PATRICK HUNT</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Assistant Coach Men’s Basketball Team</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>1992 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick Hennessy Hunt was born</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>When Patrick was in Year 9, a Physical Education teacher from New Zealand named Peter Mullane introduced several additional sports to the Christian Brothers College sports program, one of which was basketball.&#160; In the Winter of Year 10 Patrick had to make a difficult choice whether to continue to play rugby for the school or to play basketball. He chose basketball.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick played for the College in the local Tamworth basketball competition where basketball stalwart Ken Frame and a teacher Ron Hough were very influential on Patrick and basketball.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick represented Tamworth in basketball and his teams won the New England Under 18 Championships two years running. He then represented NSW Country and attended NSW team tryouts and a camp at Narrabeen Fitness Centre. It was at Narrabeen that he met a number of people who were to influence his basketball future. These people included Bob McGugan, Peter Pender, Ted Weston, Barry Meadows, Don Pollock and Bob Staunton.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>He continued to play local basketball and represented Tamworth at the senior level. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick’s coaching career started when he was still very young. His first team was the Christian Brothers College Under 16 Men’s Team, and then the Tamworth Under 18 representative team. He went on to coach the New England Under 18 Men’s Team to two NSW Division Two Championships.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>At this stage Patrick says, “I was bitten by the basketball bug!” He cites influences on his coaching career at this time as Bob Elphinston, Bob Staunton, Adrian Hurley, George Thompson and Charlie Ammitt. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1973 Patrick sold his car and went to stay in San Francisco, USA with an American friend who Patrick had coached in Tamworth. Patrick takes up the story, “Before I left for the States Lindsay Gaze put me in contact with Coach Bud Presley at Menlo College in San Francisco. I visited Bud and he took great care of me. We visited college and high school basketball programs and I saw and learnt a lot.”</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Hunt was keen to pursue his coaching and was appointed Assistant Coach to the 1972 NSW Under 16 Men’s Team under Coach Bob McGugan who became a mentor and life-long friend.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1974 Patrick toured to the USA as a member of the Supporters Group with the Newcastle Men’s Team.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick’s representative coaching with NSW included being the Assistant Coach for the NSW Under 16 Men (1973), NSW Country Under 16 Men (1974), and NSW Country Under 20 Men’s Team (1975). In 1976 he was appointed Head Coach of the NSW Country Under 20 team and would serve in that role for two years. In 1979 Hunt coached the NSW Under 20 Men’s Team that won the Australian Championships.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>At the 1979 Australian Under 20 Championships Patrick met Ron Harvey a doyen of basketball. Harvey would invite Patrick to Canberra in 1981 to coach the Canberra Cannons in the National Basketball League (NBL)</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>His first national appointment came in 1976. That year, Hunt was appointed to be Ian Laurie’s Assistant Coach with the Australian Under 20 Men’s Team. This team was Australia’s first National Junior team. The team toured to the Philippines.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick was Assistant Coach with the Australian Junior Team in 1977 atthe first World Championships for Junior Men in 1979 in Brazil where the Australians finished in 9th position. He was Assistant Coach of the Australian Team at the second Junior Men’s World Championships in 1983 in Spain when the Australians finished 10th.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Hunt was appointed Head Coach of the National Junior Men’s Team in 1981 and again, from 1985 to 1991.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1981 Patrick was appointed as Head Coach of the Canberra Cannons in the NBL. Early that same year he worked part-time as a volunteer at the newly established Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) program under AIS foundation Head Coach Dr Adrian Hurley. In July 1981 he was appointed as an Assistant Coach of the AIS. He would act as Assistant Coach in the AIS Men’s Program until he was appointed Head Coach of the Men’s Team in 1983 and would hold that position until 1992.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Using the AIS Men’s Basketball program as a “core” Australia participated in the World University Games in Edmonton, Canada, 1983 and Kobe, Japan in 1985.&#160; This was the first time that Australia was represented in Basketball at the World University Games.&#160; Patrick Hunt was Head Coach for both these campaigns. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p> In 1987 Patrick coached the Australian Junior Men’s Team at the 1987 World Junior Men’s Championships. The Australians finished a highly credible 5th place. That 1987 included future Australian Olympians Shane Heal, Luc Longley, Mark Bradtke and Andrew Vlahov.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The 1991 World Junior Men’s Championships were held in Canada. Hunt was Head Coach of the Australian Team that finished in 11th position. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>These times were a rapid learning and growing curve for Patrick’s basketball knowledge and career. He comments, “Adrian Hurley was tremendous in encouraging and supporting me to pursue my career and dreams and was also as a very influential mentor for me. He was very supportive in me pursuing professional development opportunities to improve my coaching expertise while I was coaching at the AIS.&#160; These personal development opportunities included: visits to USA, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.&#160; &#160;</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>His first appointment with the Australian Men’s Team was as an assistant coach in 1989 for the Boomers tours in the USA and Argentina. In the early part of that tour Hunt was coaching the Australian Junior Men’s Team which was also touring the USA. In 1989 he was an assistant coach to the Boomers for the Kareem Jabaar Series held in Australia. He continued to assist with the Boomers at a number of occasions in 1990 but not in the 1990 World Championships in Argentina. The Assistant Coach to the Boomers at that time was Barry Barnes. Dr Adrian Hurley was the Head Coach. Hunt’s duties as an assistant to the Boomers also included a tour to Europe in 1991.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Australian Team was allowed to have two Assistant Coaches at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and Hunt was appointed to that second position in 1992. Hunt has excellent basketball “scouting” skills and this was one of his major roles for the Boomers at the Barcelona Olympic Games. The Boomers played very well and achieved their second best performance to that time when they finished in sixth position.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>“To say that I was very proud, humbled and elated to be selected on the Olympic Team is a massive understatement. I had always dreamed of representing Australia at an Olympic Games since my first memories of the Olympics when I was about four years of age, and this dream was now being realised.”</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>“Two of my most memorable memories from Barcelona are the 40 point win over Puerto Rico in our first game...they were ranked fifth in the world, and the other was the Opening Ceremony. Numbers were restricted as to who could attend the Opening Ceremony.&#160; Adrian Hurley gave up his position at the Opening Ceremony to allow me to attend and he watched from the stands.&#160; In the tunnel prior to entering the stadium, the atmosphere was “electric” and then the roar of the crowd as we entered was unbelievable.”</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1993, the AIS and Basketball Australia appointed Patrick to the new position of Manager of National Player and Coach Development.&#160;The position entailed being Head Coach of the National Intensive Training Centre Program and was principally involved in accelerating the development of players prior to them going to the AIS.&#160;</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Hunt held this position until 2008 when he was appointed to the new position of AIS Applied Technical Advancement Coach. He was now responsible for working with Olympic Games and World Championship calibre coaches and design programs to advance their coaching expertise. He currently serves in that position.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1994, he was appointed as the Oceania representative to the World Association of Basketball Coaches Executive Board.&#160; In 2010 he was appointed President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick Hunt is a great example of how young coaches can develop from small beginnings in country basketball and progress through to be an Olympian. He is a great student of the game and has dedicated his life to basketball in Australia. He has had a profound influence not only on countless young basketball players but on most of the coaches in Australia, directly and indirectly, through his personal clinics or clinics he has organized.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick Hunt is a Life Member of the Australian Basketball Coaches Association.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>1992 Barcelona Olympic Team</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I was reappointed as Head Coach of the National Junior Team in 1989 through to the World Junior Championships in 1991.&#160; Basketball Australia also appointed me as Assistant Coach to the National Men’s Team “The Boomers” during this period but I would only travel with the National Mens Team when AIS and Junior Men’s Team commitments permitted.&#160; I joined The Boomers for National Team commitments in Australia and also in USA and joined The Boomers on a pre-Olympic Tour in 1991 to Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands.&#160; We won our first international Gold medal at the HAARLEM Tournament in the Netherlands.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I also joined The Boomers for their pre-Olympic preparations in Australia throughout 1992.&#160; I was absolutely thrilled and delighted when Dr. Adrian Hurley (Head Coach of our Olympic Team) informed me that I had been selected to accompany the team to the Olympics as second Assistant Coach principally responsible for scouting and assisting with game strategies.&#160; I joined Barry Barnes who was also Assistant Coach to the Olympic Team.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The first one comes from our 1976 Australian Junior Mens Team Tour to the Phillipines.&#160; We were flying from Manilla to Iloilo (which is a city in the south of the phillipines).&#160; We couldn’t understand why the security checks were being extra thorough, these included a fairly intensive “pat-down” to which some of the players found astonishing to say the least.&#160; We were in the boarding lounge and there was a scuffle at the security check point, which involved armed police and security people who had apprehended a passenger who had a hand grenade in his possession!!!&#160; Needless to say, on our other flights during this Tour, we were all insisting on detailed security checks!!! </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The second one comes from the 1979 World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil.&#160; We were drawn to play Brazil on the opening night and it would be fair to say that Brazil (who went on to play for the Gold Medal against USA) started as favourites.&#160; The stadium was packed to the rafters with several samba bands in full swing with lots of vocal support from the fans supporting their national team.&#160; The game was close throughout and we won the game on 2 free-throws made by Mark Gaze in the final 3 seconds of the game causing an upset win.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>As is usual in Brazil, during the game there is a ring of security personnel surrounding the playing arena.&#160; The security guards were armed with a truncheon and sub-machine guns.&#160; The truncheon was hanging from their belt and the machine gun was slung over their shoulder.&#160; As the end of the game drew closer, the security guards were now holding up their truncheons and in the final minute as the crowd became more active, they holstered their truncheons and now had both hands on their sub-machine guns in a ready position as the crowd were beginning to surge forward to the edge of the playing arena.&#160; We were celebrating our win and at first did not notice the crowd.&#160; Our interpreter/liaison officer alerted us to the crowd behaviour and the crowd began not only hurling abuse but other small objects, so we thought we had better vacate the arena.&#160; Unusually, the change rooms were down underneath the playing arena, so we sprinted down the stairs making our way to the change room.&#160; Instead of going the normal way to catch our bus back to the hotel, we took an alternative tunnel towards another bus which had no identification of the World Championships.&#160; We were advised to crouch down as we left the arena so as not to provoke any reaction from the crowd who were now making their way from the arena.&#160; As we passed our usual bus, we found the crowd had surrounded it and were rocking it.&#160; The organising committee apparently had had this sort of thing happen before so had planned accordingly but we weren’t aware of this until of course it eventuated.&#160; The next night we came out to play and went to the centre circle, had a “hands-in” and then waved to the crowd who responded with a polite cheer as emotions had now settled.&#160; A fairly interesting experience to say the least!!!</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>How you got started</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In my days in Tamworth, at the Christian Brothers College, the main sports I played were rugby league, rugby union (in the Winter), and swimming and athletics (in the summer).&#160; I represented the school in rugby league, rugby union and swimming.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>When I was in Year 9, a Physical Education teacher from New Zealand named Peter Mullane introduced several additional sports to our school sports program, one of which was basketball.&#160; In the Winter of Year 10 I had to make a difficult choice.&#160; From Year 9, I was chosen to represent the school in the first XV in rugby and first XIII in rugby league and did so throughout Year 9 and the Winter of Year 10.&#160;&#160; I then had to make a difficult decision between football (rugby and rugby league) and basketball, and chose basketball.&#160; The decision was difficult as both my brothers, Peter and Paul, had represented the school in rugby and rugby league, so there was a tradition in continuing to do this.&#160; I had kept this family tradition alive by representing in both football codes, so this made the decision a little easier.&#160; So this is where it all began.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Who influenced you in the early days / Your early playing days / State Junior Teams</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In the early days, we played as a school team in the local B grade men’s competition.&#160; A basketball stalwart from Tamworth, Ken Frame, gave us some assistance as did a guy from the Education Department named Ron Hough.&#160; Ron was also a state referee and active on NSW basketball committees.&#160; One of the players in our team, Brian Kelly, had a sister (probably still does!) Chris, who was playing so she volunteered to coach us.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Out of our team, six of us represented and were undefeated as New England Junior Champions (Under 18) for 2 years.&#160; I represented NSW Country and attended the annual Basketball NSW Camp, at Narrabeen Lakes Fitness Centre, as a player trying out for the NSW Under 18 State team on which I “just” missed selection (very poor decision by the selectors!!!). It was here that I met <strong>Bob McGugan,</strong><strong>Peter Pender, Ted Weston, </strong><strong> Meadows, Bob Staunton, the late Don Pollock, Keith Hart</strong> (who was still playing but was also assisting at the Camp) and many others who were to become close Coaching Colleagues and friends for many years to come.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>As you know, I left school at the end of Year 10 (1968) and later on completed my studies at the now .&#160; During my Junior representative days, I also represented in the Senior men’s team.&#160; When I had left school, there was no-one to coach the Junior players (under 16) who had just started to play.&#160; So, I offered to coach them and started the program at the from which grew the formation of the “Barons” club.&#160; I was also appointed coach of the Tamworth (under 18) rep team and we were undefeated in for 4 years.&#160; I was also appointed coach of the (under 18) rep team and we won the NSW Championships (division 2) twice and were runners up once.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>During these formative coaching years, <strong>Bob Elphinston</strong> was helping Basketball NSW as Coaching Director and he regularly sent me coaching articles.&#160; The late <strong>Bob Staunton</strong> was also of tremendous assistance as was <strong>Adrian Hurley</strong> in his role as NSW Coaching Director.&#160; I also struck up a friendship with the late <strong>George Thompson </strong>from the Manly Association (and Sydney Paratels) and he was also of tremendous assistance.&#160; The late <strong>Charlie </strong><strong>Ammitt</strong> was also a great supporter and provided assistance.&#160; Bob Staunton put me in contact with <strong>Lindsay Gaze</strong> and Lindsay sent me copies of the VBA newsletter “tip-off” each week (for free !). I attended Coaching Seminars regularly conducted in and organized by the various NSW Directors of Coaching. I guess by this stage, I had been “bitten” by the basketball bug (Virus !!). </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>When I was coaching the Tamworth representative team, I coached a young American player, Mike Phillips, whose family from were on an exchange with a family from for 12 Months.&#160; Mike’s dad was a medical doctor who also lectured in medicine at .&#160; Mike also represented and his father was impressed with Mike’s progress.&#160; He extended an invitation to me to visit the family in .&#160; This was in 1973.&#160; So, I sold my car (which was a heap!) to raise the airfare and took off for San Francisco where I spent 6 weeks staying with the Phillips family and more learning about coaching basketball.&#160; Prior to embarking on this trip, I contacted Lindsay who put me in contact with <strong>Bud Presley</strong>, Head Coach at in .&#160; Bud took great care of me and we visited the Stanford Basketball Program and coachHowieDalmar, Santa Clara Program, Coach <strong>Caroll</strong><strong> Williams</strong> and the San Jose Program and many other High School programs.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I was keen to pursue my coaching and was appointed Assistant Coach to the NSW Under 16 Team in 1972.&#160; The Head Coach of this team was <strong>Bob McGugan</strong> and little did I know that a life long friendship through basketball began.&#160;&#160; I am godfather to Bob’s daughter, Stacie.&#160; Bob has been of tremendous assistance both in coaching and as a friend throughout the years.&#160; I also went back to the touring with the Newcastle Men’s team as part of their supporters group in 1974.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I was Assistant Coach to Bob McGugan in 1973 (NSW Under 16 Team), 1974 (NSW Country Under 16 Team) and 1975 (NSW Country Under 20 Men’s Team).&#160; In 1976, I was appointed Head Coach of the NSW Country Under 20 Team, a position I held until 1978.&#160; In 1979, it was decided by Basketball that the Under 20 National Championships would be for combined state teams.&#160; I was appointed Head Coach of the NSW Under 20 Team in 1979 and we won the National Under 20 Championships.&#160; At these Championships, I met <strong>Ron Harvey</strong> from who later on was to play a major part in me moving to to Coach the Canberra Cannons in 1981.&#160; During my time coaching at National Junior Championships, I coached against and got to know very well .&#160; Little did I know during this time, that and I were to be Assistant Coaches on the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Team.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Throughout these years, I had made the trek from Tamworth to the National Annual Club Championships in , and , and also attended many National team camps at the Albert Park Stadium in .&#160; On one of these visits to , I travelled with the Bankstown Women’s team who were competing in the Women’s Club Championships. Bob Elphinston assisted with my organisation and travel and also met who was one of the players on the team.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>National Junior Teams</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1976, I was appointed to <strong>Ian Laurie</strong> as Assistant Coach to the Australian Under 20 Team, this was ’s first National Junior team, and we toured the .&#160; Prior to our departure, I met basketball legend <strong>Al Ramsay</strong> and this was the beginning of a long association with both Ian and Al.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I was Assistant to Ian with our Australian Junior Teams in 1977 and to the first World Championships for Junior Men in 1979 in , and the second Junior Men’s World Championships in 1983 in .&#160;&#160; During our preparations for the World Junior Men’s Championships in 1979, I met ’s first National Director of Coaching, <strong>Ron Carling</strong>.&#160; Ron provided valuable assistance and support.&#160; I was appointed Head Coach of the National Junior Men’s Team in 1981 and again, from 1985 to 1991 was the Head Coach of the National Junior Men’s Team.&#160; In 1987, the National Junior Men’s Team were ranked 11th and we finished a creditable 5th, being the first Australian National Team to defeat the then .&#160; Little was I to know that 4 members of that team, , Mark Bradtke, Luke Longley and Andrew Vlahov, would make our 1992 Olympic Team of which I was to be appointed Assistant Coach.&#160;&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Senior Coaching and AIS </strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1981, I was recruited to coach the Canberra Cannons in the National Basketball League by Ron Harvey the General Manager of the club.&#160; I also commenced studies in the Sports Studies Degree at the Canberra College of Advanced Education (now the ).&#160; I also was assisting in a volunteer position to <strong>Dr Adrian Hurley</strong> who had just been appointed as inaugural Head Coach of the AIS Basketball Program.&#160; had 21 athletes to look after, on his own, which was an interesting challenge to say the least!!!</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In June of 1981, I was interviewed by the Director of the AIS, <strong>Don Talbot</strong>, for the Assistant Coaches position of the AIS Basketball Program assisting the AIS Foundation Coach, <strong>Dr Adrian Hurley</strong> and was successful and commenced work at the AIS on the first of July, 1981.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I worked in the AIS Basketball Program as an Assistant Coach in 1981 and 1982, and then Adrian Hurley had me look after the Men’s program from 1983 up until 1992.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1983 and 1985, using the AIS Men’s Basketball program as a “core” we participated in the World University Games in Edmonton, Canada, 1983 and Kobe, Japan in 1985.&#160; This was the first time that was represented in Basketball at the World University Games.&#160; I was Head Coach for both these campaigns. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Adrian Hurley was tremendous in encouraging and supporting me to pursue these ventures and also as a very influential mentor for me.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p> also was very supportive in me pursuing professional development opportunities to improve my coaching expertise while I was coaching at the AIS.&#160; These PD opportunities included: visits to , , , and .&#160; &#160;Coaches who influenced me during these professional development opportunities included Lute Olson, Arizona, Bob Knight, Indiana, Mike Krzyzewski, Duke, Dave Jacobs, Whittier, College, Roy Williams, Kansas, Dean Smith, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Paul Westhead, LA Lakers and Loyola Marymount.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>1992 </strong><strong> Olympic Team</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>I was reappointed as Head Coach of the National Junior Team in 1989 through to the World Junior Championships in 1991.&#160; Basketball also appointed me as Assistant Coach to the National Men’s Team “The Boomers” during this period but I would only travel with the National Mens Team when AIS and Junior Men’s Team commitments permitted.&#160; I joined The Boomers for National Team commitments in and also in and joined The Boomers on a pre-Olympic Tour in 1991 to , , and the .&#160; We won our first international Gold medal at the HAARLEM Tournament in the .&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I also joined The Boomers for their pre-Olympic preparations in throughout 1992.&#160; I was absolutely thrilled and delighted when Dr. Adrian Hurley (Head Coach of our Olympic Team) informed me that I had been selected to accompany the team to the Olympics as second Assistant Coach principally responsible for scouting and assisting with game strategies.&#160; I joined who was also Assistant Coach to the Olympic Team.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>To say that I was very proud, humbled and elated to be selected on the Olympic Team is a massive understatement.&#160; My family was also so proud and thrilled with the news as well as my friends from Tamworth and the region of NSW.&#160; I had always dreamed of representing Australia at an Olympic Games since my first memories of the Olympics when I was about 4 years of age, and this dream was now being realised – fantastic time.&#160; I remember where gave me the news – it was on court 3 at the AIS Basketball Training Hall just before we commenced practice.&#160; I must say I had trouble containing my delight and excitement at this news for the remainder of our practice session.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Comments/Experiences re the 1992 </strong><strong> Olympic Team</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Getting </strong><strong> into </strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>I remember this one vividly.&#160; had forgotten to bring his Olympic Visa which would gain him entry not only into the Olympics but also into .&#160; We had a problem!! – we were landing in prior to travelling to and it looked like would have to be detained in prison until the appropriate Visa and paperwork was able to be provided.&#160; Time for action…!!&#160; As we know, when arriving into a country lined up and dressed in the appropriate uniform, the immigration authorities usually look at the first couple of passports and visas very carefully then normally “push” the rest through.&#160; We shuffled “Smacker” to the middle of the line and then I went through about 4 or 5 people ahead of him.&#160; Upon getting through I doubled back (to the great concern of the armed security guards) and handed my Visa to John Scott, Manager of the Team, and said “Give this to Smacker.”&#160; I was then very strongly ushered by the security guards back to the arrival area where I was to view the proceedings of ’s entry!!&#160; Andrew Gaze was beside me and he realised what was going on – Drewy remarked “How interesting this would be as I no longer now have a Visa and has mine, so we could both end up in the “Clink””. &#160;Well approached immigration and duly presented my Visa – the official looked at the Visa carefully and I thought we were gone – however, he waved through and Drewy and I rejoiced.&#160; We greeted and said “let’s get the ------ out of here before they might want to check again.”&#160; It is an advantage to share similar hair styles as I am sure this was a factor in ’s admission into on my Olympic Visa !!</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Getting into the </strong><strong>WaterPolo</strong><strong> Games</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>Of course it is in the Australian tradition to have a “GO” at “screwing” any system which is worth a challenge (which is most!!).</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>We rocked up to the waterpolo and found that tickets as well as our accreditation were required to gain entry.&#160; The Seniors led the way and mentioned to the guy on the gate that the next guy behind had the tickets.&#160; We all continued to relay this same message and upon gaining entry split up and looked back to see some poor Spanish guy explaining that he didn’t have any tickets but it was too late as we were in and gone!!!&#160; The waterpolo game was pretty good.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Game </strong><strong>vs</strong><strong> Puerto Rico</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>This was our first game for the 1992 Olympics and we played extremely well.&#160; It was as if all our plans had clicked into place and as it was my first game as Assistant Coach at an Olympics, it was very memorable.&#160; We won 116-76 (by 40 points).</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Opening Ceremony and other Ceremonies</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>I was encouraged by Adrian Hurley and Manager, John Scott to attend all the Ceremonies which fitted with our practice and game schedule.&#160; I did this attending the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Village and the Reception for the Athletes and Coaches at which the flag bearer was announced.&#160; The most memorable Ceremony was the Opening Ceremony.&#160; Numbers were restricted as to who could attend the Opening Ceremony.&#160; Adrian Hurley gave up his position at the Opening Ceremony to allow me to attend and he watched from the stands.&#160; I am extremely grateful to for making this gesture.&#160; In the tunnel prior to entering the stadium, the atmosphere was “electric” and then the roar of the crowd as we entered was unbelievable.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Closing Ceremony – again, there were restrictions on numbers who could attend this event.&#160; John Scott, our Manager, was able to “wrangle” a position for me to attend and again, I am most grateful to him for doing this.&#160; At the Closing Ceremony, the official line was that no athletes or officials were supposed to enter the Arena?&#160; I was most appreciative of the security guard who gave me a hand to jump the fence and enter the Arena and join many of my colleagues who had done exactly the same!</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Proud to be a full-time Coach (</strong><strong>, 1981)</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>When I was appointed Assistant Coach to Adrian Hurley at the AIS in 1981, I took the men’s and women’s teams (21 players) to the Oceania Tournament conducted in .&#160; joined us later as he waited in for the birth of his son, Mark. I remember filling out my immigration departure card and for the first time put down my occupation as Coach - I thought at the time that this was a moment which I had dreamed about for a long time and am still very proud to be a full-time Coach.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Oceania/WABC/President WABC – New positions AIS</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1993, the AIS and Basketball asked me if I would take on the new position of Manager of National Player and Coach Development.&#160; I was still employed by the AIS with my services for this position being seconded to Basketball .&#160; The position entailed being Head Coach of the National Intensive Training Centre Program and was principally involved in accelerating the development of players prior to them going to the AIS.&#160; Along with this, was the dual aim of developing a network of coachesnation wide to coach the athletes to do this.&#160; The emphasis was on getting coaches to become better practitioners on the court during practice to do a better job of teaching the players how “to play” the game.&#160; &#160;</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>I held this position until 2008 when I was appointed to the new position of AIS Applied Technical Advancement Coach which was responsible for working with Olympic Games and World Championship calibre coaches and design programs to advance their coaching expertise.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1994, I was appointed as the representative to the World Association of Basketball Coaches Executive Board.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 2010, I was appointed President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Well, I hope that you enjoy reading this “mini-book” and I realise that you will only need a small part for your exercise but it has been a good exercise for me recalling all this.&#160; I could have included more stories from ie. Anita Keating’s security guard and assistance provided to him to get into the VIP area, but thought that I have included more than enough for your purposes.&#160; </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Thanks again for your work with this.&#160; It has been a most enjoyable exercise for me too.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Will look forward to catching up with you and Carolyn next Tuesday, 21 December.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Cheers and Best Wishes to you and Carolyn.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Patrick</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>_____________________________________________________________</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>AIS Applied Technical Advancement Coach</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>AIS Elite Performance</p>

Sort Order HTML <p><strong>Australian Institute of Sport</strong>Tel:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; +61 2 6214 1302</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Mobile: +61 409 621 423</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Fax:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; +61 2 6214 7666</p>

Sort Order HTML <p><strong>From:</strong> Adrian Hurley <strong>Sent:</strong> Monday, 9 August 2010 4:16 PM</p>