Rockhampton Cyclones coach Drew Fenton headed to Toowoomba Grammar
Drew Fenton is ready for a new challenge after Rockhampton Basketball failed to strike a deal with the championship-winning coach. See what’s next.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Drew Fenton is headed to Toowoomba after Rockhampton Basketball failed to strike a new deal with the championship-winning coach.
The association’s development manager and head coach of the Rockhampton Cyclones will finish up on Friday.
He has accepted the position of head of basketball and first coach at Toowoomba Grammar.
Fenton said he was disappointed to be leaving Rockhampton, where he had created some “great memories” over the past four years.
“It didn’t quite work out the way I wanted. I was out of contract … and I ended up taking something else,” he said.
“I didn’t want to leave but I wasn’t left with too many options.”
Fenton took the Cyclones from near cellar dwellers to NBL1 North champions during his tenure.
He took them to back-to-back finals, with the team celebrating a well-deserved victory this season.
Rebuilding the Cyclones into a powerhouse is high on the list of Fenton’s greatest achievements here.
So too is the leading role he played in orchestrating the Rockhampton Rockets’ silver medal win at the Australian Under-14 Club Championships in 2022.
“We did some good things but there will always be someone fresh to come in with new ideas,” he said.
“The place will keep ticking over; it’s a good little association and it’s got some good people involved with it.”
Fenton said he was excited for what lies ahead in Toowoomba in a position that perfectly combines his junior development skills with his elite-performance experience.
“It will be a good challenge. It’s probably the only thing I haven’t done in basketball,” he said.
Outside of basketball, Fenton said he would miss Rockhampton and all it had to offer.
“I ended up loving the whole community,” he said.
“I’ve never lived in a regional town before and I think it was a shock to the system at the start but I’ve got lifelong friends here now who I know I’ll come and visit.
“I’ll look back on my time in Rocky very fondly.”
A post on the Rockhampton Basketball page wished Fenton well in his future endeavours.
“Drew has been an invaluable member of our organisation, dedicating himself to the development of players and leading the Cyclones with passion and expertise,” it read.
“His contributions have left a lasting impact on our basketball community, and he will be greatly missed.”
‘Never give up’: How Capras players turned coaches on western road trip
A coach passionate about fostering female rugby league devised a plan which saw his under-19 squad turn into mentors. Here’s how it unfolded and what it meant to a top player to be involved.
‘Awesome’: Gladstone Ringers defy the odds to claim memorable footy victory
The under-17 boys champions overcame plenty of adversity to hoist the trophy at the Warba Wangarunya Rugby League Carnival in Rockhampton. Read how the two junior finals played out very differently.