Meet Mackay Meteorettes’ new head coach, who is looking to put the next generation on the map

Mackay Meteorettes’ new NBL1 women’s coach has revealed his plans for a successful 2025 campaign.

Mackay’s new Meteorettes women’s coach Ross Jensen during his time coaching the under-16s girls. Picture: Renae Droop

Ross Jensen is no stranger to the Mackay basketball program, but even he admits that there will be a great deal of “learning” to be done in his new role.

Jensen is taking on the top job in the Mackay Meteorettes program, set to coach their NBL1 North women’s team in 2025.

It’s the next step in what’s been a more than decade-long journey for the local man, who has coached at every junior age bracket culminating in his time coaching the girls under-18s team last season.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge that it will be, I suppose it’s a natural progression to come through juniors and eventually get to this point,” he said.

The Meteorettes had a tough 2024 campaign which saw them finish 10th out of 14 teams in their conference with a 6-11 record, but Jensen said he’s confident they can put a strong team on the park if things fall his team’s way.

“Obviously there’s still a lot to work out in terms of players who will be restricted or unrestricted, but if the right people say yes to us then we can build good team,” Jensen said.

“We’ve got enough juniors coming through that can make up the core of our side, so if we can get a bit of experience and a bit of size around them I think we will be well placed.

“Our junior girls program has been among the best going around for a long period of time, Mackay girls often go on to make state teams and the like.

“Unfortunately I won more silver than gold at tournaments when I was coaching the juniors, but there’s plenty of success going around in Mackay for us to tap into.”

Jensen joins Mackay’s new NBL1 men’s coach Matt Paps who was announced as championship-winning coach Joel Khalu’s replacement late last year.

“I haven’t had a chance to meet Matt in person yet, but I’m looking forward to working alongside him in the senior program,” Jensen said.

“We’re one program after all, it makes sense for us to work together and be on the same page.”