Basketball: Lemanis appointed to Boomers coaching staff

Andrej Lemanis. Photo / Getty Images.

Breakers give their blessing, predict benefits as coach steps up to international level

Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis will split his time between the club and the Australian national team after being appointed assistant coach of the Boomers.

Basketball Australia confirmed yesterday that Lemanis would work alongside new head coach Brett Brown.

Breakers general manager Richard Clarke quickly moved to allay fears the role would affect the club negatively, saying it was no different from a player receiving an international call-up.

"When Andrej came to us to discuss the offer, we viewed it in the same way as we do our players," Clarke said.

"The attainment of higher honours must be a goal of everyone in the sport. Once we had worked through the detail and the impact on the club, we were more than happy to endorse the appointment and wish Andrej well in an exciting and challenging new role.

"The appointment is an endorsement of Andrej's abilities as a coach and his work in taking the Breakers to two consecutive years of post-season basketball.

"We also view it as recognition of the club and the progress that we have made on and off court in recent years, with the playing programme led by Andrej."

Lemanis is sure to miss some Breakers' regular season games but the coach and the club expressed confidence in assistants Dean Vickerman and Judd Flavell.

"If I thought this would compromise in any way my work at the Breakers I would have said no," Lemanis said.

"This will be a good thing for the club too, as I get to work on the world stage with the best Australian players and tap into the leading coaching brains, something that can only have a beneficial effect on the club and our players.









"I owe a lot to the Breakers for their support over the past four years. We have stuck together through thick and thin and now are starting to see the benefits of that investment."

Clarke had no issue with the time that Lemanis would have to commit to the Australian programme.



"The benefits far outweigh any negatives in this appointment. Andrej will be working with some great players, coaches and operating on the world stage against some of the best nations playing the game.

"The chance to be at the cutting edge can only help our programme and our players."