Eric Hayes Returns to the Rush Program

Basketball Ballarat is pleased to announce they have appointed club Legend Eric Hayes as Head Coach for the Ballarat Skoda Rush for the next two seasons. Hayes opted not to seek to extend his Miners Head Coach contract as he felt that Nathan Cooper-Brown was ready to take the team forward.

In recent weeks Hayes spoke with many mentors about the best way he could continue to support the Ballarat program. On finding out that David Flint would not be extending his contract and, with the encouragement of his mentors, Hayes decided to apply for the Rush role.

Hayes worked with the Rush program prior to his time with the Miners in the position of Under 18 Head Coach and some years ago with our senior women’s programs. Hayes has an equally strong background in women’s sport and will be an excellent acquisition to the program.

Senior Elite Teams Rush Chairperson Lynly Doherty said “We were really impressed with the number and quality of applications we had for the head coach position. In making what was a very tough decision we believe that Eric is the perfect person to continue with the work that David Flint started, similar to the way it happened in the Miners program 3 years ago”.

Doherty continued “Eric has past experience in the Rush program, and we are excited for him to continue his 27-year association with Basketball Ballarat.”

Hayes said “I am really excited to have this opportunity to work with the Rush program including the U18’s, Youth League and SEABL teams.  There are some promising players in our program so I hope to help them all improve individually and as a team get back to the finals.”

Hayes continued “Womens sport is on the rise so these young ladies have a great opportunity to really enjoy their sport during a time of growth.  WNBL is back on television which should certainly lift the game’s profile and we will do our part by providing a style of play that is successful and enjoyable to watch, I can’t wait to get started”.

Basketball Ballarat CEO Peter Eddy said that “the appointment of Coach Hayes from such a quality field of candidates for the role bodes well for the future of our women’s program. We have a number of quality players coming through the junior and youth league levels and I am sure that the coaching standards we will be able to deliver into the future will help provide the elite athlete pathways we need”. Eddy added “I hope that all those who applied for the Rush Head Coach position can be engaged with our programs in some significant way as we grow the Elite Teams program for Regional Victoria at the Ballarat Sports & Events Centre”.

Hayes and the committee will be looking to appoint a coaching panel and get the 2017 players re-signed early to start the preparation for 2018.

For more information on the GMHBA Miners or Ballarat Skoda Rush please contact Elite Teams Administrator Melissa Thomas via 5330 7604 or Melissa.Thomas@ballaratbasketball.com