Basketball Australia ramps up its bid to secure a new coach with a former NBL mentor in the mix among exceptional candidates

Former Sydney Kings head coach Will Weaver who went on to jobs as an assistant in the NBA has emerged as a contender among an ‘impressive’ list of candidates for the vacant Boomers job.

Andrew Bogut (left) and Sydney Kings coach Will Weaver (centre) are seen talking to players during the Round 6 NBL match between the Brisbane Bullets and the Sydney Kings at the Queensland State Netball Centre in Brisbane, Friday, November 8, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Former Sydney Kings mentor Will Weaver has emerged as a genuine contender to coach the Boomers among a field of exceptional candidates from Australia and abroad.

Code Sports understands Weaver – a long-time men’s national team assistant and caretaker head coach – is highly rated among Basketball Australia officials.

The American born mentor had a significant impact when he coached the Kings in NBL20, leading the club to its first minor championship in over a decade.

Sydney lost to Perth in a Covid-Interrupted grand final series, but Weaver made his mark as a coach with high basketball IQ.

His successful stint at the Kings paved the way for him to join the NBA as an assistant coach at the Houston Rockets.

Former Sydney Kings coach Will Weaver has emerged as a candidate for the Boomers coaching job. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi.

Weaver spent two seasons at the Rockets before moving to France to coach Paris Basketball in the French LNB Pro A.

He returned to the NBA in 2023 as an assistant coach at the Brooklyn Nets, but he has since left the Nets.

Weaver, who is in Australia on holidays and attended the Christmas Day game between the Kings and the Hawks, is right in the mix to coach the men’s national side given his extensive international experience across multiple countries.

The Texas-born coach has also had coaching stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Long Island Nets – winning G-League Coach of the Year in 2018-19.

Melbourne United’s Dean Vickerman is also a contender. Vickerman is highly rated as a coach who has won three NBL championships with United and the New Zealand Breakers.

Former Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson has also applied for the job, but is on the fringe at this point.

Basketball Australia had planned to finalise a new Boomers head coach before Christmas, but it’s understood the process remains ongoing.

Legendary Australian big man Luc Longley was originally on a selection panel to choose the next coach, however he has opted to withdraw for personal reasons.

Three-time Olympian Andrew Bogut has been elevated to panel to determine the person who will replace Brian Goorjian following his departure after Paris.

Former Kings coach Will Weaver talks to Andrew Bogut during the Sydney Kings pre-season camp at Auburn Basketball Centre in 2019. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

It’s understood Basketball Australia officials are rapt with the level of interest for the Boomers coaching job.

Code Sports has been told the quality of applications from both local and international are impressive.

The Boomers face a new era ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with uncertainty hanging over the futures of veteran campaigners like Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova. The new coach will have to make tough decisions on the rosters as Australia looks to usher in a new era led by the likes of Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels.