Gooding On Board
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
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Australian Leigh Gooding had a surprise taste of things to come before his official appointment as NZ Tall Ferns assistant coach and head coach of the new Christchurch-based defencejobs Australian WNBL franchise.
Pending Basketball New Zealand board approval, Gooding (36) was included in the tour party when the national womenís team visited Japan last month and actually guided them in their final game after head coach Mike McHugh returned home early to attend a SPARC conference.
“It was a quick little learning curve,” acknowledges Gooding. “I had to try and get up to speed with the plays.
“There was an interesting start to the game, as I tried to work out who was who.”
Today, he will feel more like part of the family as he fills his rightful spot on the Fernsí upcoming tour of China.
ìLeigh has a long background in the game,î says McHugh, who has overseen recruitment for the AWNBL franchise in his role as Basketball New Zealand womenís coaching director.
ìHe comes from a well known basketball family in Australia, so we knew he had good knowledge and cared about the game.î
Gooding has worked on development programmes in Newcastle and Albury, and most recently, was assistant coach with the Nunawading menís team in the South East Australia Basketball League. But it was his four-year stint as assistant coach at the NBL West Sydney Razorbacks under former BBNZ coaching director Gordie McLeod that probably won him the New Zealand job.
ìWe spoke to Gordie about him and his response was, if he had the opportunity, Leigh would be the first guy heíd hire again,î says McHugh. ìThat was a very strong recommendation.
ìThe fact he has been around national league clubs will be important for the development of the Christchurch franchise Ö he will know how things should run.
ìWeíve got a lot of confidence in Leigh and he obviously takes things in his stride. I think he has already garnered some respect from the players too.î
Gooding virtually stumbled into the role after enquiring about another fulltime position at BBNZ and discovering the Tall Fern/Christchurch job was available. Previously, he had worked in IT to supplement his basketball aspirations.
This will be his first experience coaching a women’s team as such, although he has worked with women on his development programmes.
“To me, at the end of the day, they are a group of athletes. I’ve certainly worked with groups of athletes before … they happened to be mostly male, but I don’t see much difference, to be honest.”
The Christchurch squad is slowly taking shape with five initial signings last month and more in the pipeline. Tall Fern forward Lisa Wallbutton, who was supposed to be one of the original signings, has now committed to the programme after ironing out details of her contract.
“That has been a good start,” says Gooding. “There are a couple of senior players we are still working on and we need to bring in a couple of import players from the States or somewhere around the world.”
The Ferns leave for China tonight with Junior Tall Ferns coach Rachel Gwerder now confirmed as video coach for the 2007 campaign.
Leigh Gooding Basketball CV
2006
Assistant Coach, Nunawading Spectres SEABL Men’s Team
2004-07
Head Coach, Xavier College, Kew (Year 7 Boys)
2002-03
Assistant Coach & Consultant, Albury-Wodonga SEABL
2000-01
Head Coach, Albury/Wodonga Bandits ABA Team (East Conference Champions 2001/Coach of Year 2001)
1998-2001
Assistant Coach, West Sydney Razorbacks NBL
1998
Assistant Coach, West Sydney Slammers ABA
1997
Junior Development Officer, Basketball Association of Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
Head Coach, Newcastle Hunters ABA
1996
Assistant Coach, Willetton Tigers West Australia SBL
Player/Coach, Willetton Tigers
1995
Player/Coach, Willetton Tigers Western Australia SBL
1994
Assistant Coach, NSW Country State Team U18
Head Coach, NSW Country Australian Country Cup
Player, Albury/Wodonga Bandits CBA Team
Assistant Coach/Player, Albury Cougars NSW State Basketball League
1993
Assistant Coach, NSW Country State Team U18
Head Coach, Albury Cougars NSW SBL
Head Coach, Albury Cougars Senior Representative Team
1992-1994
Board Member, Albury Senior Basketball Association
1991
Player, Albury Cougars Senior Representative Team
1989-1994
Head Coach, Albury Cougars Representative Teams U20 & U22
1989-1992
Player, Albury/Wodonga Bandits CBA
1984-1989
Junior Representative Player, Albury Cougars
