Basketball Hawkes Bay is extremely proud to announce our A team coaches for our Representative Programme in 2019. All coaches responded to the advertisement in late 2018 and completed their expression of interest form. All of these candidates were submitted to an interview with the Basketball Hawkes Bay Rep Coach Selection Panel.

The panel was made up of:

• Morgan Maskell (BBHB Basketball Manager; 2018 NZ U15 Boys Head Coach)
• Tim Motu (Sport Hawke’s Bay Coaching Development Officer)
• Natu Taufale (Basketball New Zealand National Director of Coach Development)

"We sincerely thank Tim & Natu for their time and expertise; especially with Natu coming up from Wellington. The expertise and knowledge of coaching on the panel is extremely high, and ensures that BBHB has an impartial and fair way to select the best coaches for our players in 2019" says BBHB Basketball Manager Morgan Maskell.

Kaine Hokianga will coach the Under 15 A Boys in 2019 after taking a year out from coaching rep basketball in order to be an Assistant Coach with the Taylor Hawks NBL franchise in 2018. Kaine has coached rep basketball for Manawatu & Hawke's Bay in the past, and most recently was the Head Coach of the 2017 Hawke's Bay Under 17 Girls. Kaine is a teacher at Havelock North High School where he leads the basketball programme.Coach Hokianga says he is "very excited by the potential in this age group" which possesses many young talented players full of potential.

Graham Takie will the Head Coach for the U15 Girls for 2019. Graham is a born and bred Bay boy who is stepping into a Head Coach role after spending several years as a personal skills trainer and Assistant Coach. In 2018, Graham was the Assistant Coach for the Hastings Boys Juniors & Hawke's Bay U17 Boys. Graham brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role, and we are very excited to have him aboard the Hawke's Bay Coaching team for 2019. 

Nick Fee will be the Head Coach for the U17A Boys. Nick is a current Taylor Hawks player, and has previously played for the Manawatu Jets, in the New Zealand NBL. Nick has also represented New Zealand in 3x3. In 2017, Nick led the Waikato U17 Boys to 5th Place at the BBNZ Aon U17 National Championships. We are excited to have Nick aboard the 2019 Hawke's Bay Coaching team. Nick says that he is "grateful to have the opportunity to help mentor the future leaders of Hawke's Bay Basketball".

Morgan Maskell will coach the Under 17 Girls in 2019 after moving to Hawke's Bay in late 2017 to take up a position as Assistant Coach for the Taylor Hawks. Morgan brings international experience to the position as the 2018 Head Coach of the New Zealand Under 15 Boys. In 2018 Morgan led Napier Girls High School to a school-record 9th place at the BBNZ Schick Championships, and had a Top 4 finish at the BBNZ Aon U15 National Championships with the Hawke's Bay U15 Girls. We are excited to have Morgan aboard the 2019 Hawke's Bay Coaching team.

Clifton Bush Jr will lead the Under 19 Boys in 2019 after coaching the U17 Girls in 2018. Clifton is an extremely well known member of our basketball community, and we are excited to have him aboard the Hawke's Bay Coaching team for 2019. Clifton played professional for several years in the New Zealand NBL, winning multiple championships before settling in Hawke's Bay where he has been coaching both boys and girls across all age groups. In 2018 Clifton was the Head Coach for the Hawke's Bay U17 Girls and the Assistant Coach for Napier Girls High School.

Sina Au will coach the U19 Girls in 2019. Sina was the Head Coach of the Hastings Girls High School Senior team after being a long time assistant to Dustine Sadler. Sina has had experience coaching in Australia and we are excited to have her as part of the coaching team.

"Selecting the right coaches is vital because it leads to our players developing and achieving their potential. I believe this is one of the best coaching groups in a long time, and am excited to see these coaches work with our talented young athletes" says BBHB Basketball Manager Morgan Maskell.