Vital Ipswich role allows respected mentor to fulfil new goals

Well-travelled Brady Walmsley is pleased to have started a more involved, full-time general manager role bringing together multiple aspects of his basketball career.

Former Ipswich Force women’s coach Brady Walmsley is transitioning from a mentoring role to general manager.

Basketball go-getter Brady Walmsley expects to miss being a coach when the NBL1 North competition returns next year.

However, Walmsley is pleased to have started a more involved, full-time general manager role bringing together multiple aspects of his progressive career.

“For the past couple of years, I’ve continued to use my coaching as more of a platform to transition into something like this,’’ Walmsley said.

“The timing is pretty good all-round.’’

Well-travelled Walmsley has spent the past week and a half transitioning into the position.

“There’s just a little bit of time that I have to spend making sure the operating rhythm kind of suits the way that I need it to,’’ he said. “But going well so far.’’

The added duties include more meetings with local, state and federal politicians.

“There is a level of proactivity that I’m expected to deliver on to keep moving us forward,’’ he said.

When Walmsley first came to Ipswich after stints in north Queensland, his versatility was one of his leading qualities.

Although appointed as Ipswich Force women’s coach at that stage, he quickly took on an association development role, actively expanding basketball’s reach into growth areas like Ripley.

Ipswich Basketball general manager Brady Walmsley.

He is eager to continue building on those initiatives.

“One of the advantages that I’ve been selling as part of the process is the opportunity to hit the ground running,’’ he said.

“To move things forward without skipping too much of a beat.

“I’m right into the thick of it straight away, which is good.’’

That includes forgoing his coaching for the foreseeable future.

“I will miss that,’’ he said. “That was something I had to relinquish as part of taking on the role but I do think to do this role really well, I have to be fully invested in it without distraction.’’

A new Ipswich Force women’s coach and development officer are being sought as Walmsley focuses on his extra demands.

“The priorities are to continue grow and expand the brand and our footprint in the community,’’ he said.

“Participation remains a really heavy focus for us.’’

Walmsley takes over from former general manager and treasurer Brooke Norgrove who served in the position for a number of years.

Ipswich Basketball president and Ipswich Force head coach Chris Riches reviews his team's position in an NBL1 North match at JBS Stadium. Picture: Megan Low

Ipswich Basketball president Chris Riches said Walmsley deserved his opportunity to continue the positive development work he started before concentrating coaching this year’s Ipswich women’s side.

“He understands what the organisation is about,’’ Riches said.

“He has been in basketball for an exceptional amount of time so we see this as a win-win situation.’’

Riches meanwhile is standing for re-election as president at next month’s AGM.

However, after six years on the board and with Force men’s coaching commitments, he welcomes people with fresh ideas to help take Ipswich Basketball forward.

Riches said he would be quite happy to focus on NBL1 North coaching if the right person stepped forward as president.

“There’s a number of other projects that are being kicked along,’’ he said.

“As you head towards the Christmas period, this is really an important period for us to promote our programs for next year,’’ he said.

“That will be a driving force in regard to hitting the ground running.’’