Olympics: The Boomers have locked in on the man they want to replace Brett Brown as coach

Officially, the race to replace Brett Brown as Boomers coach is wide open. But Basketball Australia reportedly has a preferred candidate that already has plenty of international experience.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 08: Newly signed Illawarra Hawks NBL head coach Brian Goorjian speaks to the media at Wollongong Entertainment Centre on October 08, 2020 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Brian Goorjian has emerged as the favourite to replace Brett Brown and return as coach of the Boomers at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Basketball Australia has announced it will undertake a thorough process to hire a new coach, but it’s understood Goorjian is the preferred option given his prior experience as Australian coach and on the international stage in China.

The NBL’s most successful mentor coached the Boomers at the 2004 Athens and the 2008 Beijing Olympics while he ran Australian men‘s workouts in Melbourne this off-season.

Twelve years on from his last stint, Brian Goorjian could be back as Boomers coach.

While Brown’s resignation was announced on Tuesday night, the former Philadelphia 76ers coach informed Basketball Australia of his decision weeks ago.

Officials have spent that time zoning in on their preferred replacement, which is Goorjian.

It’s also understood Goorjian has backing from the Players’ Association.

Perhaps, most importantly Goorjian has close and trusted relationships with Australia’s NBA players like Joe Ingles, Andrew Bogut, and Patty Mills.

Ingles is particularly fond of the master coach after playing under him at the South Dragons and winning an NBL championship in 2009.

It comes as Basketball Australia will interview the likes of Will Weaver, Rob Beveridge, Dean Vickerman, Adam Caporn, and Trevor Gleeson.

It’s understood that officials want to complete a formal process before officially announcing the Boomers’ next coach.

Goorjian with a young Andrew Bogut.

The likes of Gleeson, Beveridge, Vickerman and Weaver, depending on whether he lands an NBA job, would be ideal assistants.

Goorjian has put his hand up to coach the Boomers when contacted on Wednesday.

Asked if he would consider the head coaching role for the Tokyo Olympics if Basketball Australia wanted him to do it, he replied: “Definitely”.

“I support Basketball Australia and like the military, if they need me, I’m happy to help them,”Goorjian told the NCA NewsWire on Wednesday.

“I enjoyed my time there with BA and I’m supportive of Australian basketball, but I’ve heard nothing (about the job) and I’m not in pursuit.”

Brett Brown steps down as Australian Boomers head coach for Tokyo Olympics.

Read the announcement 👉 https://t.co/iNMDCQAE8e

📸: @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/K6BNfCzAT5

— Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) October 13, 2020