Former Adelaide 36ers Brett Maher and David Cooper set to clash in state league coaching debuts

BRETT Maher and David Cooper were Adelaide 36ers teammates for the best part of six seasons, but they will go head-to-head as coaches tomorrow night.

BRETT Maher and David Cooper were Adelaide 36ers teammates for the best part of six seasons.

So they had to smile after learning their state league coaching debuts would be against each other at Pasadena tomorrow night, when Maher’s Sturt takes on Cooper’s Norwood in round one of the new season.

“To see that we were playing against them, it should be a lot of fun,” Maher said.

Cooper expects a clash of styles on the sidelines.

“Brett’s going to making a lot of noise and going to be riding the refs, whereas I like to stay fairly quiet and relaxed,” Cooper said.

Maher drew first blood when the clubs met in the league’s pre-season tournament last month.

“And I’d expect to continue that trend,” Maher said with a laugh.

“But first games of the season are always unpredictable.”

Maher and Cooper are returning to their former clubs; while Cooper retired from the Flames two seasons ago, Maher last suited up for the Sabres in the early 2000s and his most recent full season with them was in 1995.

Maher threw his hat in the ring for the 36ers coaching position when it was vacant last year but was told to get experience.

This resulted in the coach returning to Sturt, where he played the bulk of his senior and junior basketball.

“This is the perfect place to start and I may as well go back to my roots,” Maher said.