Posted this in another thread - may be useful here too:

When looking at a coach's performance you need to consider probably four things at least:

1. Where did the team finish this year compared to last year?

2. What players came in/out of the team from last year?

3. Has the overal standard of the competition improved/declined?

4. Where would have the team finished if the Phil Jackson (or the best coach you've ever had) was coaching them?

Keeping these things in mind and assuming that the competition has got stronger (which most would tend to agree with) I think the only three coaches who are in consideration are (based on minor rounds only - which is another flaw when selecting COY):

Simons: Similar team to last year (Arnold and Campbell come in but Newley and Wilson go out) and still able to match last years effort.

Loveday: Team probably got a bit weaker on paper but they have improved from 7th to 4th (No Hawkes and McKay but Groves comes back in). Hard to tell if the improvement is because of Loveday and not having the issue of the generation gap that caused problems last year or maybe part of the improvement was to do with Schuller?

Bauer: A bit hard to judge Potsie's performance because it is hard to know if this year's team was better than last years on paper. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that they were fairly even. This year's lineup was much more unsettled with Shepherd, Gower, Maher, Smylie and himself all only playing parts of the season so he did a wonderful job keeping the team chemistry and putting the wins on the board. Note here that any team with Ng in the form he was in would do well.


The others probably couldn't win coach of the year for the following reasons:

Hill: Any coach that adds Holmes and Hill and has Madgen after a season training with the sixers and finishes about the same as last year probably would be hard pressed to win COY. Still has done a great job tho.

Sapwell: Probably should have added a fifth criteria above and that is the respect of the players. I'm not sure Sapper has this and he has probably underachieved given that he has added three quality players in Cooper, Matthews and Eley.

KB: I think KB is a great coach and had "da wood" made the finals he would surely be considered. Could not find anyone to fill Elders shoes but you have to love the way he gets those kids to play.

Manning: The team is progressing well and I think he will reap the rewards of two solid years next year. He makes them play hard. But South probably would have been expecting to make the finals this year after last year's near miss. A tougher competition and the loss of Pilkington prevented that from happening.

Hopkins: Same frustrating year for Billy - win some great games, lose some you should win and have plenty of injuries. A fit Gerlach and Alexander all season would have meant finals action.

Grieger: According to Hoops stats West only won three games last year when neither Truslove or Nash played so it was always going to be tough without them for the whole season. As such the jury is probably still out on his coaching credentials. Hats off tho for sticking with the kids in a lot of games - hopefully this combined with some off season recruiting will lift the bearcats next season.

Ricky: Could not possibly judge his coaching after the injury riddled season he had. I think he is a great coach and has respect from the players. too bad those players couldn't play all year.

91033, do you play for North?

Simpson & Whitmore to leave Centrals. Brooks to leave Woodville. Would Woodville enetrtain Whitmore as a rookie coach?

Whitmore would be a good ABA women's coach - was successful with woodville in U18s a few years ago

gawd scott stop talking yourself up

Simpson and Whitmore to suit up for Centrals.

I'd like to see that!