Ness Takes on New Role

Basketball Australia has announced a change to the coaching structure of the Australian Rollers men’s wheelchair basketball team with Craig Friday assuming the mantle of head coach.

Friday will be joined by Brad Ness, with the five-time Paralympian and Australia’s flag bearer at the 2016 Rio Paralympics on board as an assistant coach.

The new-look Rollers coaching structure is completed by the addition of Murray Treseder as a mentor coach and Grant Mizens as specialist coach.

The group take on the role from Ben Ettridge who led the Rollers through their most successful era, highlighted by gold at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008 followed by silver in London, four years later.

Ettridge also coached the national team to dual world championship titles whilst spurring names such as Ness, Shaun Norris and Justin Eveson towards the pinnacle of the game’s international standing.

With the Rollers next set to combine for a national camp at Canberra’s Centre of Excellence in March, Friday said he was looking forward to challenge.

“I am extremely thrilled, honoured and proud to be appointed to the Rollers Head Coach position. I am excited by the challenge and I look forward to starting the hard work that lies ahead,” he said.

The Rollers are scheduled for a tour of Papendal in the Netherlands where they will take onJapan and their hosts in a three team-international friendly tournament in preparation for the Parantee Paralympics Championship Tournament from April 7-17 in Blankenberge, Belgium.

Basketball Australia Head of Wheelchair Basketball Leigh Gooding explained that Western Australian Brad Ness would combine his new role whilst still continuing to form part of the Rollers’ playing roster.

“The Rollers coaching staff additions includes current captain Ness, who will initially take up an assistant coach, playing position through to the 2018 World Championships,” he said.

Photo: Australian Paralympic Committee