Close friend, former clubs pay tribute to local basketball icon Trevor Semmens
One of South Australia’s most renowned basketball coaches has been remembered for his caring approach to life on and off the court.
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A highly revered local basketball coach is being remembered as a dedicated and caring man on and off the court.
Trevor Semmens – who coached multiple SA country, district and state teams – passed away at the age of 58 last week after a long battle in hospital with illness.
Semmens started his basketball career in Broken Hill as a junior, eventually coaching local junior and women’s teams to success in his early 20s while playing for the seniors, and then becoming the town’s basketball director of coaching.
He led multiple junior and senior SA Country championship teams in that role.
He then enjoyed successful stints at Basketball SA district clubs North Adelaide and Forestville before spending several years as a coach and development officer for basketball in Mount Gambier.
Through this period Mount Gambier had significant success at senior and junior levels of country championships, the Country Victoria Basketball League, and had strong representation at annual national junior cups and SA Country state teams.
Semmens’ proudest achievement was winning silver as coach of the 2009 SA Country U16 girls team, which included players like current Opals captain Steph Talbot and WNBL player Alex Wilson, in the national junior championships.
His brother, Grahame, was assistant coach of that team.
Glenn Mathieson – former Forestville basketball manager and popular local coach – was close friends with Semmens, and was left shattered by his passing.
“I’m still trying to piece it all together,” Mathieson said.
“He was such a warm and caring person and loved and respected by everyone.
“It’s a massive loss.”
Semmens was admired as one of the best coaches of the fundamentals of basketball for young kids around regional South Australia.
He was also highly respected by juniors and their families for the way he would also mentor the players off the court.
“The impact he had was phenomenal,” Mathieson said.
“Trevor was able to get the best out of anyone as a team or individually and take them to the next level whether it was at state level or national level.
“He was always concerned with how kids were going with life away from the game and dedicated time to making sure they were on top of their studies and things like that – especially during his later years in Mount Gambier.”
Mathieson also remembered Semmens – who never married or had children – as someone who loved spending time with his mates and cracking jokes at their expense.
“Sometimes he was quiet but sometimes he was the life of the party – you’d have to be on your toes around him because he’d always find some way to liven things up,” he recalled.
“Most of all though he was a great bloke who was always checking up on people and left no stone unturned when it came to figuring out how to get the best out of people in basketball and outside of basketball.”
Semmens will continue to be honoured by country and district clubs around SA throughout the season.
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