Justin Schueller named as new Brisbane Bullets coach

The Brisbane Bullets have wasted little time in appointing a new coach after a poor 2022-23 NBL season.

New Bullets coach Justin Schueller wants to bring New Zealand Breakers star Will McDowell-White home to Brisbane.

Following the conclusion of their horror NBL season, the Bullets on Wednesday announced the appointment of Australian under-17 mentor Schueller, who joins Brisbane from Melbourne United, where he had been an assistant coach for six seasons.

He becomes the fourth Bullets coach in three months, following in the footsteps of the sacked James Duncan, and Sam Mackinnon and Greg Vanderjagt, who both held the role in an interim capacity.

Vanderjagt was in charge from December 13 until the completion of Brisbane’s season last weekend, and was in contention to keep the job before the Bullets opted for Schueller.

Greg Vanderjagt’s hopes of remaining coach of the Brisbane Bullets have been dashed. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images

However, there remains a job for Vanderjagt as a Bullets assistant coach, should he want it.

“He knows that if he wants to be here, he’s got a spot,” Schueller said.

“He’s got a lot to offer.”

As does 24-year-old guard McDowell-White – the son of Brisbane Lions AFL great Darryl White – who Schueller coached at national youth level.

“To see where he is today, as an opposition coach, is something that you kind of enjoy. Definitely someone like that who can influence the game that way would be pretty important for this club,” Schueller said.

“He’s the sort of model of player that we’d look to try to recruit.”

Schueller said he was “excited and honoured” to be joining the Bullets.

“This has been something I have been wanting for a long time and I couldn’t think of a better club to be joining.” he said.

“It’s an exciting time for the club. We have two Olympians (Aron Baynes and Nathan Sobey) on our roster to build around, a fan base that is always there behind the team and opportunity to turn our on-court output around quickly.

“I can’t wait to get started building this roster and get to work with the group.”

Baynes and Sobey are the only two players contracted for next season, with Schueller and Mackinnon, the club’s general manager of basketball, already planning the Bullets roster for next season.

“We can put a really great roster together with some exciting young potential,” Mackinnon said.

Bullets senior basketball adviser Stu Lash said Schueller’s “proven recruiting methods” in the NBL would play a “big part” in the Brisbane’s future.

Bullets chief executive officer Peter McLennan said Schueller had “all the necessary traits to lead our group moving forward”.

“Justin’s vision, goals and values align well with what the organisation want to achieve and he will play a pivotal role both on and off the court,” McLennan said.

Originally published as Justin Schueller named as new Brisbane Bullets coach