From Marlins to Boomers: Kerry Williams’ Legacy as Taipans Assistant Coach Hits Major Milestone
Kerry Williams reflects on two decades of basketball as he marks 100 games as a coach with the Cairns Taipans. How an NBA champion inspired his rise, to now representing the Australian Boomers.
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Kerry Williams has marked a significant milestone in his basketball career, celebrating his 100th game as assistant coach of the Cairns Taipans. Though the game ended in a disappointing 97-74 loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix last Sunday, it was a moment of reflection for Williams, who has spent the better part of two decades shaping both his own career and the future of basketball in his hometown.
From rising through the ranks of Cairns Basketball to carving out a coaching career that now extends to the Australian Boomers, Williams’ journey is a testament to dedication, hard work and a deep passion for the game.
A Hometown Hero
Growing up just a street away from Cairns Basketball — affectionately known as “The Fish Tank” — Williams’ basketball journey began in the very heart of the Far North community. He first joined the Taipans Academy at the age of 15, eager to follow in the footsteps of the players he idolised.
“All my earliest memories are right here,” Williams said, reflecting on his deep connection to the region.
He recalls watching the Taipans’ imports like Rashamel Jones and Jayson Wells as a young boy, but it was the support of his family, particularly his mother, father, and siblings, that was instrumental in Williams’ journey.
“They sacrificed a lot for me to be involved with basketball,” he said.
“Basketball is an expensive sport, but they made sure I had everything I needed.”
This unwavering family support laid the foundation for a career that would eventually take him from local courts to international arenas.
An Inspiration from the NBA
In his early years, Williams – a loyal LA Lakers fan – drew inspiration from a young Kobe Bryant, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. However, he was particularly captivated by the playmaking skills of point guard Jason Kidd, who would go on to lead the New Jersey Nets to multiple NBA Finals and clinch an NBA Championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks.
“I loved Jason Kidd’s game,” Williams said.
“The way he got downhill, transitioned, could change direction at top speed. Playing fast and finding his teammates.”
Composure came naturally to Williams along with his floor general mantra which he attributes to his grandfather, Tom Brown, a respected elder in his community.
But while his love for Kidd’s fast-paced play stayed with him, it was coaches like Aaron Fearne and Mark Beecroft who helped Williams refine his game and build his basketball IQ.
Fearne, who later became head coach of the Cairns Taipans, played a pivotal role in Williams’ development, teaching him the importance of ball security and a more measured approach to the game.
“When I played, I wouldn’t look at the points, I’d focus on my assist-to-turnover ratio,” Williams recalls.
“I wanted a 4:1 ratio. It wasn’t about scores, it was about making the right decisions and taking care of the ball.”
A Champion Player
Williams’ playing career with the Cairns Marlins was a high point, where he earned a reputation as a tough, gritty point guard. In 2004, he was part of the Marlins’ Queensland Basketball League (QBL) and Australian Basketball Association (ABA) Championship-winning team, a squad considered one of the best in the club’s history which featured future NBA stars Aron Baynes and Nathan Jawai along with Aaron Grabau, Curt Ah Wang, Aaron Fearne and future Cairns Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft as head coach.
Following his success with the Marlins, Williams transitioned to the Cairns Taipans, where he played 105 NBL games. Known for his leadership and basketball intelligence, he was a key figure on the floor, directing plays and orchestrating the offence. But after retiring from playing, Williams made an even bigger impact as a coach.
A Natural Transition to Coaching
Williams’ transition to coaching has been nothing short of seamless. His deep understanding of the game, combined with a natural ability to connect with players, made him a perfect fit for the sidelines.
After hanging up his sneakers, Williams began coaching with the Cairns Marlins before joining the Cairns Taipans as an assistant coach. His ability to break down the game and communicate his insights has seen him grow into one of the brightest coaching talents in Australian basketball.
While he has personally developed Cairns superstars Cayla George and Shaneice Swain.
A standout achievement in his coaching career is his ongoing assistant coaching role for the Australian Boomers - where he is set to travel with the squad which will compete against Thailamd and Korea in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifying Tournament in Thailand later this month.
“Getting the call-up to work with the Boomers is unreal,” Williams said, acknowledging the pride of representing Australia.
“The first few times it is a ‘wow’ moment, having been a part of the group a couple times, I now know what I need to focus on. I’m just so fortunate working with the people in that circle like Adam Caporn, Brian Goorjian and Dean Vickerman. Being able to sit down with Robbie McKinlay and Jacob Chance and share stories, see how they coach their processes day to day.”
One of the greatest influences on his career has been his partnership with Taipans head coach Adam Forde. Williams credits Forde with much of his development as a coach, praising his mentor’s attention to detail and commitment to the process. “He’s the first one here at 5am and one of the last to leave. He’s given me more responsibility over the years, particularly with settling in the imports,” Williams said. “It’s been a great learning experience.”
Forde said Williams’ ability to connect with the Taipans players has been exceptional.
“One of the things about coaching is guys can know basketball, but it’s how you deliver the message and then how that message is received,” Forde said.
“At this level, you have to be a chameleon to connect with NBA G League players along with NBL1 players. ‘Kez’ can go from a player’s perspective, as a former NBL player, to more of a father figure approach to younger players because he’s a dad. If he needs to be more professional on a coach-player relationship, he has that ability as well. Coaching is less to do with basketball and more to do with the people management skills. The ones that can make that next transition up to be a head coach is how they manage people and Kez can do that brilliantly. It’s only a matter of time before he gets those opportunities to be a head coach.”
Shaping the Next Generation
In addition to his work with the Taipans and the Boomers, Williams has made it his mission to inspire the next generation of basketball players, particularly in the Cape York region, where he has strong family and community ties. His passion for providing opportunities and pathways into sport for Indigenous youth is a core focus particularly with his numerous hours with the Moonlight Hoops program at Cairns Basketball.
“There are so many different avenues and pathways into sport,” Williams explains. “I was lucky to play, but now I’m in coaching. I’ve had players go on to become physios or work in high performance. The key is to step outside your comfort zone and learn new things. Then bring those experiences back to help your community.”
For Williams, being a role model and a tireless worker is what truly matters. He continues to give back to the game, using his platform to help young people from all walks of life see that a career within sport is well within reach.
Originally published as From Marlins to Boomers: Kerry Williams’ Legacy as Taipans Assistant Coach Hits Major Milestone
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