Carrie Graf

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>NO 5 CARRIE GRAF</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>Australian Women’s Team Assistant Coach</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>1996 and 2000 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p><strong>Head Coach 2012 Olympic Games.</strong></p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Carrie played with the Nunawading Spectres in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) from 1983 to 1989. She was named WNBL Rookie of the Year in 1983.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>She was awarded a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in.... At the AIS she was exposed to elite coaching through the AIS program, coaching in the WNBL and through the many international and national coaches at the AIS or visiting the AIS.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>“It was obvious to me at that time when she was at the AIS that Carrie had all the attributes to become a top coach in basketball. She was determined, a keen learner, had a great thirst for knowledge on the game, was a good communicator and was passionate about the game. It is no surprise that she became as successful as she has,” says former AIS Head Coach Dr Adrian Hurley.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1992 Carrie was an Assistant Coach to the Melbourne Tigers Women’s Team in the WNBL.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1993 Carrie was appointed Head Coach of the Sydney Flames in the WNBL. She coached at the Flames until the end of the 1996 WNBL season. At the Flames she had much success. In her first year her team won 17 games and lost only one and went on to win the WNBL Championship. In 1994 she coached the Flames to a 14 win 4 loss record, in 1995 to a 16 win 2 loss record and in 1996 won 17 games and lost one game and were defeated in the WNBL Grand Final.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1999 Carrie was named as the Head Coach of the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL. She coached the Capitals to the WNBL title in 1999/00, 2001/02, 2005/06, 2008/09 and in the 2008/09 season.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>From 1998 to 2003 Carrie was an Assistant Coach (except for 2000 when she was committed to the Australian Women’s Olympic Basketball Team) at the Phoenix Mercury in the best Club competition in women’s world basketball...the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the USA. She was an Assistant Coach at the Seattle Storm in the WNBA in 2002. In 2004 Carrie became the second Australian Coach (behind Tom Maher) to be a Head Coach in the WNBA when she named as Head Coach of the Mercury. Coaching in the WNBA was an immense experience for any coach and Carrie thrived in the competitive and challenging environment.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 2003/04 Carrie was the Head Coach of the New Zealand National Women’s Basketball Team, the Tall Ferns.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Graf was named as the WNBL Coach of the Year in 2007 and in 2008.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>She passed the 200 wins mark in the WNBL in 2010 and in doing so became the coach with the most wins in WNBL history.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In terms of her approach to coaching Graf says, “I try to communicate to players in the way that I would want to be communicated to. I have worked with a lot of different coaches....my aim has been to borrow from the best of all of them, but above all to create a positive environment.”</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Carrie Graf’s first appointment with an Australian National Basketball Team was at the end of 1992 when she was the Assistant Coach of the Australian Junior Women’s Team for its 12 match tour of Europe. In 1994 she was appointed Assistant Coach for the Australian Women’s Basketball Team (Opals) for a tour to China. Her appointment continued through 1994 and 1995with the Opals Korean Series, the Olympic Qualification Tournament (which Australia won), the Goldmark Cup against China, a six match tour to Europe all in 1995, and the World Basketball Challenge against Brazil in Australia, and pre-Olympic Tournaments in Canada and Chattanooga USA just prior to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Opals, with Carrie as one of the Assistant Coaches, created history when they became the first Australian senior team to win a medal at an Olympic Games or World Championships when they secure the Bronze Medal. It was a tremendous result and one that laid the foundations for future Opals teams to win medals at Olympic Games and World Championships.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1997 Carrie was An Assistant Coach for the Opals for the Japanese Series, the Oceania World Championships Qualification Tournament (which they won), aRussian Series, the USQ Invitational Tournament in the USA and the Golden Cup in Brazil to complete the year.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Carrie was Assistant Coach for the Opals in 1998 for the Japan Women’s Festival, the Grand Prix of Slovakia and the Portugal Tournament. These games and tournaments in 1998 were in preparation for the 1998 Women’s World Basketball Championships held in Germany. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Opals performed tremendously well to take the Bronze Medal at the World Championships.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>1999 was all about the Opals preparing for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. That year Carrie was Opals Assistant Coach for the Opals in the Maher Cup against Cuba, and in the US Olympic Cup and the USA Invitational.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Opals run into the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games was intense. Carrie was Assistant Coach for the Opals in the Maher Cup against Russia, in the Olympic Test Event, the Goldmark Cup with Canada, on the European Tour to Europe (France and Poland), against New Zealand in Australia, in the C7 International Challenge, against the USA in Melbourne and against Brazil in Wollongong.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games were a triumph for the Opals as they went through the tournament undefeated until the final where they were defeated by the USA. The Opals had won the Olympic Silver Medal in a dazzling display.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>After Sydney 2000 Carrie’s career with the Opals went through a hiatus, until in 2009 she was once again appointed an Assistant Coach for the Opals. She acted in that capacity through 2009.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 2010 Carrie was appointed Head Coach of the Opals. She led the Opals through to the 2010 Women’s World Basketball Championships where the Opals took 5thplace. She continued through 2011 as the Head Coach and led the Opals to the 2012 London Olympic Games where the Opals took home the Bronze Medal.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In all Carrie Graf coached Australia in224 games. Twelve of those were as an Assistant Coach to the Junior Women’s Team, 156 were as Assistant Coach with the Opals and 56 were as Head Coach of the Opals.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In many ways Carrie Graf was a pioneer for women’s basketball coaching in Australia. Most coaching of elite women’s basketball teams in Australia was done by men. Carrie was one of the few women who coached in the WNBL. She was a leader in Australian women coaching in the WNBA and became the second female to coach the Australian Women’s Team at World and Olympic competition. She was one of the few Australian women who made a career out of coaching basketball. Carrie has been a role model for all female coaches in Australian basketball.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1996, the Australian Coaching Council awarded Graf with the High Performance Coach Award and Young Coach of the Year Award. In 2000, Graf was awarded an Australian Sports Medal. She is a Life Member of the WNBL. ACT Sport named her the Sportsperson of the Year in 2008.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>NOTES:</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>From 1993 to 1996, Graf coached the Sydney Flames. In 1993 and 1996, her teams finished.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>[</strong><strong>] Canberra Capitals</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>Graf has coached the . She became the coach in 1999. She was the coach of the team in 2008/2009 when the team won the WNBL Championship.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>[</strong><strong>] WNBA</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>Graf was the first Australian to be named as the head coach of a team in the American . In 2004, she coached the . Prior to holding that position, she was an assistant coach with the team for four years[3] in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2003. She did not coach during the 2000 season because of her commitments to the Australian national team.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>[</strong><strong>] National team</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>Sorry, your browser either has JavaScript disabled or does not have any supported player.You can or to play the clip in your browser. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Lauren Jackson, Jenna O&#39;Hea and Carrie Graf at a 14 May 2012 press conference at the Australian Institute of Sport</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Graf during a game between the Capitals and at AIS Arena</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Graf was an assistant coach for the national team that competed at the , when the team won a bronze medal and when the team won a silver medal at the . Graf became the coach of the in December 2008. In 2009, she coached the Australian side that won the FIBA Oceania Championship.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Graf coached the Australian side that competed at and won the 2007 World University Games.</p>

Sort Order HTML <h2><strong>[</strong><strong>] Recognition</strong></h2>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1996, the awarded Graf with the High Performance Coach Award and Young Coach of the Year Award. In 2000, Graf was honoured with being given an for service to basketball. She has also been honoured by being named life member of the WNBL in 2006. named her the Sportsperson of the year in 2008.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Carrie Graf’s first appointment with an Australian National basketball team was at the end of 1992 when she was the Assistant Coach of the Australian Junior Women’s Team for its 12 match tour of Europe. In 1994 she was appointed Assistant Coach for the Australian Women’s Basketball Team (Opals) for a tour to China. Her appointment continued through 1994 and 1995with the Opals Korean Series, the Olympic Qualification Tournament (which Australia won), the Goldmark Cup against China, a six match tour to Europe all in 1995, and the World Basketball Challenge against Brazil in Australia, and pre-Olympic Tournaments in Canada and Chattanooga USA just prior to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. </p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Opals, with Carrie as one of the Assistant Coaches, created history when they became the first Australian senior team to win a medal at an Olympic Games or World Championships when they secure the Bronze Medal. It was a tremendous result and one that laid the foundations for future Opals teams to win medals at Olympic Games and World Championships.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 1997 Carrie was An Assistant Coach for the Opals for the Japanese Series, the Oceania World Championships Qualification Tournament (which they won), theRussian Series, the USQ Invitational Tournament in the USA and the Golden Cup in Brazil to complete the year.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>Carrie was Assistant Coach for the Opals in 1998 for the Japan Women’s Festival, the Grand Prix of Slovakia and the Portugal Tournament. These games and tournaments in 1998 were in preparation for the 1998 Women’s World Basketball Championships held in Germany. The Opals performed tremendously well to take the Bronze Medal at the World Championships.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>1999 was all about the Opals preparing for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. That year Carrie was Opals Assistant Coach for the Opals in the Maher Cup against Cuba, and in the US Olympic Cup and the USA Invitational.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Opals run into the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games was intense. Carrie was Assistant Coach for the Opals in the Maher Cup against Russia, in the Olympic Test Event, the Goldmark Cup with Canada, on the European Tour to Europe (France and Poland), against New Zealand in Australia, in the C7 International Challenge, against the USA in Melbourne and against Brazil in Wollongong.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games were a triumph for the Opals as they went through the tournament undefeated until the final where they were defeated by the USA. The Opals had won the Olympic Silver Medal in a dazzling display.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>After Sydney 2000 Carrie’s career with the Opals went through a hiatus, until in 2009 she was once again appointed an Assistant Coach for the Opals. She acted in that capacity through 2009.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In 2010 Carrie was appointed Head Coach of the Opals. She led the Opals through to the 2010 Women’s World Basketball Championships where the Opals took 5thplace. She continued through 2011 as the Head Coach and led the Opals to the 2012 London Olympic Games where the Opals took home the Bronze Medal.</p>

Sort Order HTML <p>In all Carrie Graf coached Australia in224 games. Twelve of those were as an Assistant Coach to the Junior Women’s Team, 156 were as Assistant Coach with the Opals and 56 were as Head Coach of the Opals.</p>