Yeah possibly, looks to be enjoying Country gig though and not sure BV would want to rob Peter to pay Paul. It would be interesting to know who applied or who has been shortlisted if anyone has any info.

Anyone know who else was overlooked?

Kristen's resume looks great and which current first hand knowledge of BA's approach BV should benefit immediately.

Who has Kristen actually coached???
Stint at the COE as an AC and coached the Brisbane Capitals QBL women's team/junior program for two years.

Evidently a great player, but a great coach hmm... Someones getting lollies for what they did as a player. I hate to be cynical but perhaps a PR exercise?

http://www.basketballvictoria.com.au/index.php?id=102&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1099&tx_ttnews[backPid]=134&cHash=51b380648b

bigbird, I think you will find Kristen is very smart basketball wise and will bring plenty to the table.

Get positive and stop being so negative.

Thumbs up for being smart 'basketball wise', but we're talking about the position of High Performance Manager of Vic Metro, although debatable it's arguably the strongest Basketball program within Australia.

You would think that the chosen candidate would posses more than 2 years of 'coaching' experience, regardless of how smart 'basketball wise' she may be.

And its not a matter of being negative, its a matter of critical evaluation.
Is she really deserving of this highly sought after position based on her merits as a player and her smarts 'basketball wise'?

It'd be interesting to hear what you think she brings to the table that perhaps the other candidates don't; what are her points of difference?

bigbird, i do not know the other candidates so i can not comment. If it is true , Mark Watkins was an applicant, he would have also been a good fit.

I can state though that Kristen will be great in the job. Hard working, approachable, enthusiastic and knowledgable.

She will bring plenty of energy to the job.

Think she will be just what they need, her work ethic hopefully will rub off on these kids who some of them think they don't need to work hard. She will ensure they do.
She also has years of experience basketball wise, unlike many who don't make it as players so opt out to coach. For these high level elite athletes , having someone that is still actually p,aye g today's game has to be beneficial.
Or us it because she's a woman that your objecting?!!

Please, put the sexist card back in your back pocket.
The question was raised because of her coaching experience, not because she is a woman.

I hope her tireless work ethic, basketball smarts, and player experience will be enough, I really do.
But like most of us do know, playing the game and teaching the game are two different things.

bigbird pls repost in 12 mths with your views on her performance, and we will debate again,

This post is not having a go at Veal here but more so trying to figure out how the best junior development coach that is currently working in the junior development pathway in Mark Watkins was not selected. It was down to her and Mark.

He has without doubt made NSW Men's program the best program in Australia the past 6 years (as a Victorian this burns me to say that) however see results and total number of Australian athletes selected not to mention it was confirmed by BA and CoE as the best program in Australia.

There have been so many people complaining about Mark not getting the job and I believe also these people are extremely high up.

Now from what I have heard is the head selector put in for Mark's AC for Emu's team but was over looked. This IMO definitely was the main reason Mark did not get the job. Good old fassion payback...however sorry to say but the payback will land solely in the selectors hands in 12months time.

Extremely disappointing that the best state in general for basketball does not have the best coach currently coaching in the Australian junior development pathway.

By the way did I mention he guided Australia to a silver medal at the worlds...and Veal guided her QBL team where?

If BA did not want to lose Veal (anon 895), she must have been doing a good job at the CoE

912, good job at COE for a rookie maybe. Very different to this role. But yea if BA have done that it is what they see as a strategic decision. It is a risky one.

Unfortunately it is doubtful an organization as small and lacking in resources like BA has any understanding or capabilities of formal risk analysis. I doubt they have true personnel selection processes in place or understanding of corporate decision making frameworks. They are probably winging it.

How accountable are these people for these kinds of decisions?

My understands most of these decision makers are in lowly paid jobs.... Unfortunately basketball is incapable of attracting decision makers, qualified and the true leaders. These kinds of people get good at avoiding accountability, because deep down they know they're out of their depth. Therefore decisions are made that may not make sense.

Some rather negative opinions. I like "thinking's" post and also anon 534882 - gold!!

as earlier stated Mark would have been a great candidate, but Kristen deserves her chance.