Mackay Meteors sign coach Joel Khalu for NBL1 North 2023 season

Being one of the standout clubs in the competition means the ability for continued success, and Mackay has announced just the man to push the team forward into 2023.

Mackay Meteors were crowned NBL1 North premiers in 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Mackay’s elite men’s basketball side has announced the signing of its head coach for 2023, as the team looks to rebuild and seek redemption after a disappointing end to the season in 2022.

Being one of the best in the business means you want continued success, with the Meteors able to re-enlist the services of their coach for the past six seasons, Joel Khalu.

Mackay Meteors surround coach Joel Kahlu, who will now lead the team for his sixth season ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

One of the sharpest basketball minds in the country, Khalu has managed to lead the Meteors to a 73 win, 22 loss campaign in his tenure, and will eye another title come the NBL1 season next year.

“We’re excited that ‘JK’ is returning in 2023,” Mackay Basketball general manager Sean Page said.

“As a club we know we’ve got one of the best coaches in the country leading our men’s NBL1 program.”

Khalu’s record speaks for itself, with the coach leading the Meteors in 2015 to a QBL title, and going on to be crowned coach of the year two times in his now six years in charge of the side.

The pedigree of Khalu is integral to the development of the team, having recently spent time in Japan as a part of the NBA initiative to play games in Asia, where he was head coach of the junior Asia-Pacific squad.

With a winning mindset and the pieces to rebuild, Khalu is ready to enter one of the most intriguing times of the year - the recruiting process.

“Both NBL and overseas players are starting to make decisions on where they want to play in 2023, so I’m hoping to start putting pen to paper on guys over the next few weeks and start building our Meteors roster,” he said.

Viliami Foketi for the Mackay Meteors in the NBL1 North season. Picture: Contributed

Pre-season training is now underway for the core group of players, as Khalu and the entire franchise look to climb back to the top after falling short in last year’s NBL1 North campaign.

The Meteors finished the regular season second on the ladder by a percentage, but were knocked out in the quarter finals.

“2022 didn’t end the way we collectively wanted it to and that’s certainly still fresh in my mind as a motivating factor for next year,” Khalu said.

Khalu went on to say “our local players are focused, with a renewed purpose, which is great to see”.