Sunshine Coast Scorchers unveil Brad Wigney as new head coach
Sunshine Coast Scorchers head coach Brad Wigney didn’t have any coaching plans following six heart bypass surgeries but admitted the opportunity was “too hard to ignore”.
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New Sunshine Coast Scorchers head coach Brad Wigney says he’s excited for on-field results and off-field integration ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The former fast bowler represented South Australia for eight seasons, playing 26 One-dayers and 22 Sheffield Shield matches while also playing overseas professionally for Scarborough (UK) and Aberdeenshire (Scotland).
The club announced he would take over from former Zimbabwean test player Eddo Brandes .
Wigney underwent six bypass surgeries in August 2022 after suffering a heart attack earlier in the year.
The 57-year-old said the coaching opportunity came about after helping out at the club midway through last season.
“I started in November just coming down to training once a week and helping out on Saturdays with whichever grade was playing at home,” he said.
“A few guys tossed up taking control of a local side and I wasn’t planning on doing anything until next year when I’m fully recovered but this opportunity came up and it was too hard to ignore.
“I’d also coached against the Scorchers so I knew a lot of the players and have always admired them as a team, especially with the white ball given how many dangerous all rounders they have.”
The Scorchers finished in seventh place last season with 10 wins and eight losses.
Wigney, whose younger brother Stuart played 72 AFL matches between 1988 to 1996, said he hoped the senior team could develop more leaders within the club.
“I’m looking forward to stepping into the role, the club itself has changed a lot with a few more extra hands through our director of coaching Andrew Pearce and our assistant coaches,” he said.
“It means we can focus on coaching rather than being facilitators and that we can hopefully have more leaders within the playing group and throughout the club.
“Having those leaders at training and on weekends is important so that it can transcend through the team and through the club for the future.”
Wigney said his biggest aim was to create an enjoyable and more unified group.
He said he hoped the club could continue developing the players coming through the Lord Taverners side.
“I worked with the under 17s last year and the biggest thing from that age group is the player retention,” he said.
“Obviously players go to university and end up playing grade cricket in Brisbane but we want to try and create that environment where the players want to stay or want to come back.
“There’s plenty of exciting young players coming through and I’m really looking forward to working with them.”
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