Simon Mitchell named inaugural South East Melbourne NBL coach

Mitchell joins South East Melbourne from Melbourne United where he was an assistant coach for the past four years including its 2017/18 NBL Championship.

He was also an assistant coach at the Melbourne Tigers, where he was part of their 2008 NBL Championship and Head of Basketball Operations at the Frankston Blues and Knox Basketball.

Mitchell represented the Australian under-16s and under-18s and played US college basketball for University of Maine. He was mentored by current Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown as a junior and played with NBA star Kyrie Irving’s father, Drederick Irving, for the Bulleen Boomers in the SEABL.

The NBL last month announced South East Melbourne would become its ninth team and enter the league for the 2019/20 season.

South East Melbourne General Manager Tommy Greer said: “We are delighted to welcome Simon Mitchell as the Head Coach of the NBL’s newest club.

“Simon brings a wealth of experience and knowledge as well as a tremendous work ethic to the role. Most importantly, he has been part of a winning culture during his time at Melbourne United.

“Simon also has strong roots in South East Melbourne, understands the local community and will help build a great club on and off the court.  He will start immediately as we now build a team around him for our first season in the NBL in 2019/20.”

Mitchell said: “I feel very honoured, grateful and privileged to step up into a head coaching role in my home town. I’ve coached and held management roles in a number of associations in the South East, my family lives in the South East and my kids go to school and play basketball in this area.

“This is my community and I’m passionate about NBL basketball returning to the heartland of the game here in Melbourne.

“We have an opportunity to build a great club that will deliver success on the court and be an integral part of the community off the court. We want to build a strong connection to the community that will last for many years to come.”

The post Simon Mitchell named inaugural South East Melbourne NBL coach appeared first on Basketball Victoria.

SIMON Mitchell has been appointed as the inaugural Head Coach of the NBL’s newest team – South East Melbourne.

The post Simon Mitchell named inaugural South East Melbourne NBL coach appeared first on Basketball Victoria.