Sharks’ basketball mentor Simon Bogemann voted Geelong’s best junior sports coach for 2024

A decision three years ago to step up as a Sharks’ junior basketball coach has given Simon Bogemann a new lease in the sport – and seen him voted Geelong’s best junior sport coach.

Simon Bogemann from the Geelong Sharks Basketball Club has been voted best junior coach by Geelong Addy voters. Picture : Mark Wilson

Simon Bogemann doesn't coach to win.

Instead the Geelong Sharks’ junior basketball coach is confident results will take care of themselves by bringing “effort and intensity” to the court, as he instead puts his time and focus into teaching his players not only basketball skills, but life skills.

“I just want the boys to have fun,” Bogemann said.

“And if I can create a fun environment where they can trust me, and they love playing basketball, they’re going to want to turn up to training, they’re going to want to come to games and they’re going to want to improve.”

The Sharks’ U14 boys coach was voted by Geelong Advertiser readers as Geelong’s best junior coach this month, with the father-of-two also taking on an assistant junior coaching role at Geelong United this year.

He said it was an honour just to be nominated, let alone come out on top of the vote – while he felt it was “the boys’ story” and not his alone.

Simon Bogemann (middle) with his Sharks’ players. Picture: Mark Wilson

First dipping his toes into coaching as a teen when he was a player at Coburg Giants, Bogemann said it was “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made” to step up as coach of son William’s Sharks’ team in 2022 when asked.

This was despite thinking he didn’t want to coach his own children.

“It was a decision I mulled over for a little bit,” Bogemann said.

“Having had previous coaching experience, I thought, why not give it a shot?

“It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.

“It’s been so rewarding, spending time with my children (William and Lily), my wife (Kristen) is the team manager.

“It’s just been so good for our family to be involved and included in such a great club like the Sharks.”

Simon Bogemann at training with his U14 Sharks’ boys team. Picture: Mark Wilson

He’s even passed on some tips to William, 12, who joined him as an assistant coach of an U12s team last year.

With daughter Lily, 10, also playing for the Sharks, the Bogemann family has fully embraced being part of Geelong’s thriving basketball community.

“With the kids playing it, it’s reinvigorated my love for the sport,” he said.

“We support the WNBL Geelong United team and the NBL1 teams, go to most home games, it’s a bit of a family thing.”

Originally published as Sharks’ basketball mentor Simon Bogemann voted Geelong’s best junior sports coach for 2024