Coach sticks with Slammers

Championship-winning coach Darren Austin will remain at the helm of the women’s Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers for a fourth SBL season after inking a new one-year deal.

Austin piloted a young Slammers group boasting just one restricted player to ninth this year.

It was the first time the Slammers had missed the play-offs since 2012, the same year Austin masterminded a Kim Sitzmann-led squad to an 85-48 thrashing of Rockingham in the grand final.

Slammers director Carl Catalano said securing Austin’s signature was a coup for the club.

“Darren was the first ever women’s championship coach for the Slammers and the job he did with a relatively young group last year was a credit to him and the rest of the coaching staff, ” he said.

“The board felt he deserved another opportunity with the benefit of two imports and at the end of next year we will consider a longer term contract.”

With a promising crop of up-and-coming youngsters, including under-18 standouts Raya Thompson and Meg Ferraz, as well as a solid core of local players, Catalano believes the women’s team is in a position to contend for the title next season.

“We are going to be young but I thought with the young squad we had last season we very still very competitive,” he said.

“Next year the women’s program will also have two restricted players for the whole season — we’re currently working through a list of players we would like to negotiate with.

“With two restricted players and a strong group coming through from under-16 and under-18 level the club should be in a strong position.”

The Slammers have lost the services of on-court general Lisa Cartwright (retired) and experienced point guard Lauren Jeffers, leaving a hole at point guard that Catalano and Austin intend to fill through recruitment.

“Lisa’s retirement is a blow to the team but she has contributed so much and set such a great example that many of the girls still aspire to, ” Catalano said.

“Lauren is a Perth-based player and has decided not to return next year because of the travelling commitment required.

“With the loss of those two players we need to change our focus from a shooting guard/small forward in the mould of someone like Amy Patton to a player that can fill both the one and two spot.”

Catalano also said the club was close to reaching a deal that would see men’s playing-coach Ty Harrelson return for 2015, with a new contract likely to be signed in the coming weeks.

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