ORENA Hume City Broncos didn’t have to look too far in their hunt for a Big V men’s State Championship coach for next season.
The Broncos knew early in the piece they would need new hands at the helm, with Lanard Copeland joining National Basketball League’s Sydney Kings as an assistant coach.
When Copeland left his role with the Broncos early, Kelvin Bowers stepped in for the last five weeks of the season.
The team won three of those fives matches, just missing out on finals; that’s after playing the last half of the season without three of their starters.
The club was impressed with Bowers and the job he has done, and have now appointed him for next year.
Bowers said he didn’t imagine stepping into the head coach role when he joined the club.
The American has an impressive record, including coaching Big V side’s Melbourne Boomers and Sunbury Jets, and spending time with NBA club LA Clippers.
“When I came to Hume City Broncos everyone asked what I was doing, as it’s an assistant role,” he said.
“I rang Lanard, and I said I think we are two good minds who will work well together.
“I personally thought that Lanard would be here for a couple more years and I would be his assistant.”
Club vice-president Glen Milne said the decision to appoint Bowers was an easy one.
“KB’s efforts regrouped the players after some serious injuries throughout 2016 to three of our starters. He has immersed himself in the Bronco culture, and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve on court in 2017.”
Bowers is already busy looking ahead to next year and putting together a squad they hope will challenge the league.
It will be a slightly changed line-up, with Jamal Brown suffering a career-ending injury and Jermaine Maybank unlikely to play, also due to injury.
Bowers said Lee Jeka, Luke Egan, Nick Jones, Nicholas Valenta, Shaun Prasad and Shaun Prendergast would be back next season.
“I’m speaking to some high profile Big V players to try and bring them into the club.
“I’m just looking to enhance on what we are doing. Hopefully, the pieces we put together could form a very formidable team.”
The Broncos’ women’s side is still looking for a head coach after Katrina Hibbert stepped down to focus on her new role with the Melbourne Boomers. Women’s assistant coach Sally Braybon has joined the Whittlesea Pacers as their new youth league women’s coach.
