Geelong United moves closer to appointing inaugural WNBL coach

A WNBL championship winning coach is moving closer to being appointed as Geelong United’s senior mentor and two high profile players are being targeted.

Boomers head coach Chris Lucas speaks to his charges during a semi-final against the Southside Flyers in March. Picture: by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Chris Lucas has emerged as the favourite to lead Geelong United’s first foray into the WNBL.

This masthead has been told the multiple-time WNBL champion, who coached Melbourne Boomers last season, could be appointed by the end of the week.

Lucas, who coached Melbourne to back-to-back semi-final appearances, before the Boomers’ WNBL licence was, this year, transferred to Geelong, would be a steady, no nonsense hand for the new start-up.

Lucas guided Townsville Fire to two consecutive league premierships in 2015 and 16, is a former Opals assistant and Adelaide Lightning head coach.

Geelong United Basketball Association chief executive Mark Neeld told this publication it was planning to announce its new coach in the middle of this week.

The franchise is able to contact Boomers players and mentors before the free agency period begins on June 10.

Chris Lucas after a win against the Adelaide Lightning in November, 2023. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images.

“In a perfect world, it will be in the next few days,” Neeld said on Friday.

“We’re right at the pointy end, we hope to announce by mid next week.

“Our first port of call is to select and contract a coach, and then that coach will work with Megan Moody, who is our manager of pathways, they will be the two people with their hands all over the roster.

“We need to do that first. We’ll have a look at our current NBL1 squad (for potential players)

“If you start speaking to players, one of the first things they’ll ask is: who’s the coach?

“We won’t speak to anybody in contract, but if coaches are off contract it’s fair game.”

United will be aggressive in free agency, set to launch pursuit of WNBA draft pick – and former WNBL rookie of the year – Jaz Shelley as it attempts to make an impact right out of the blocks.

Shelley is an elite talent who was plucked by the Phoenix Mercury with the 29th pick in this year’s draft but just missed out on a roster spot with the WNBA club.

The country Victorian sharpshooter is considering a return home, with Geelong set to table an offer — when the twice-postponed WNBL free agency window eventually opens.

Phoenix Mercury’s Jaz Shelley. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP)

The club is also monitoring the health of hometown hero Sara Blicavs, who had complicated off-season back surgery.

The 31-year-old Opal struggled through last campaign and missed the Boomers’ final two playoff games before undergoing a spinal fusion.

It’s unclear when Blicavs will be ready to take the floor again but the dual WNBL champion would be the figurehead of the new Geelong team, given she lives in city, has strong familial ties to the community and brother Mark is an AFL premiership winner with the Cats.

Blicavs played several seasons with United in NBL1 South – playing alongside sister in law Steph in 2020 and averaged 25.6 points and 10 rebounds the following year – before later signing with the Melbourne Tigers for the 2024 season.

Blicavs sat out United’s 2023 season which ended in the preliminary final.

Originally published as Geelong United moves closer to appointing inaugural WNBL coach