Women’s National Basketball League: ex-Dandenong Rangers coach Larissa Anderson joins Melbourne Boomers

Larissa Anderson is back where she made a name for herself as a player after being added to the Melbourne Boomers’ coaching staff

Dandenong Rangers v Melbourne Boomers at Dandenong Stadium. Rangers coach Larissa Anderson cheers her team on. Picture: Michael Klein

The Melbourne Boomers have added Women’s National Basketball League great Larissa Anderson to the club’s coaching staff, last week announcing her as an assistant coach for the coming season.

Anderson will add a wealth of experience to the team, after a long playing career and a successful four-year stint as head coach of the Dandenong Rangers.

Boomers head coach Guy Molloy said he’s “thrilled” to be bringing someone of Anderson’s calibre into the coaching set up.

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Larissa Anderson, then Cavanagh, during her playing days with the Bulleen Boomers. Picture: Andrew Brownbill

“This is a unique opportunity, it isn’t often that you can bring in the coach of your inner-city rivals,” he said.

“Larissa is well known for her ability to build chemistry within her Dandenong sides, so we feel she can really help us shape that on-court chemistry with the Boomers.”

As part of her role, Anderson will focus on ramping up the Boomers’ academy program, as the club looks to build a pathway for players with the potential to play in the WNBL.

“We’re serious about the program and we’re going to use Larissa’s experience to help with the training and development of our players through the academy,” Molloy said.

“There are unique needs in this area in the WNBL and we’re trying to create a development opportunity and pathway for talented, emerging WNBL players to receive the same training as professional players.”

Anderson racked up more than 300 WNBL games during her playing career with the Boomers and Rangers.

“I am excited to be returning back to the Boomers club where I played for over 10 years,” Anderson said. “I look forward to working with Guy and the rest of the team in striving to win a WNBL championship and to help drive the development pathways within the club.”

Molloy and Anderson will be joined by Paul Flynn and Kennedy Kereama, completing a highly-experienced senior coaching set up for the 2019/20 WNBL season.