New Townsville Crocodiles head coach, Paul Woolpert is thrilled to be taking over the reigns from his good mate, the departing Trevor Gleeson. Brought on board by Gleeson last season as an assistant, Woolpert was in a position to take the top job after Gleeson headed south to the opportunities offered by the Melbourne Tigers in their much-publicised team overhaul.

Woolpert, formerly the coach of the Yakima Sun Kings, was featured in a recent article in the Yakima Herald-Republic.

"I could finish my career there," the 51-year-old Woolpert said. "This could be a job to retire on."

All it took to get to this point was some patience and good timing.

Woolpert had been off the sidelines since his one season-stint as head coach of the Tulsa 66ers in the National Basketball Association's D-League in 2008-09.

Eager to back into coaching, Woolpert was ready to head to the Far East last year when Gleeson intervened, and Woolpert instead went to work in Australia's top league, the National Basketball League.

"I was going to China and be an assistant for more money, but Trevor called," Woolpert said, "and I'd rather help a friend and live on the Great Barrier Reef."

Last season "couldn't have worked out better," Woolpert said, and things only got better when he returned to Yakima in April. On his first day stateside, Crocs officials called to say that Gleeson had taken the head coaching job with the Melbourne Tigers and that they wanted to make Woolpert head coach.

Woolpert's only stipulation was for a significant commitment from the team, which he got in the form of a four-year deal, with the first three seasons guaranteed.

"I don't want to move to the other side of the planet without some guarantee," he said, adding that even though there were some other coaching possibilities in the league, he really wanted to go back there.

"Townsville was the perfect opportunity," he said.

The Crocs were bolstered by off-season news of the return of both big man Luke Schenscher and Australian Boomers squad member Peter Crawford. They now only have to finalise their import positions to prepare for the 2011/12 NBL season.

The remainder of the article on Woolpert is a good read.

[image: Townsville Bulletin]

There has been a bit of National Basketball League news and reading in the past few days. Here is a quick wrap-up on where to cast your eyes:

• The NZ Herald has an interesting feature on New Zealand Breakers NBL champion big man Alex Pledger. 

"I am confident and injury free and it reflects in the way I am playing. Last year I was troubled by a knee injury and it has taken a while to come right," said Pledger. "The confidence comes from the great coaching I have had from Andrej [Lemanis; at the Breakers] and my team-mates and the coaching staff and team at the Pistons."

• The North Shore Times in Sydney talks to new Sydney Kings swingman, Anatoly Bose.

“It means everything, that’s what every kid dreams of, growing up and playing in the NBA,” he said.

“I know I can get that far if I keep working hard, be patient and and do all the right things.

“I’ve just got to take it one day at a time, hopefully I can get there in the end.”

• NBL.com.au picked up on this update on MVP Gary Ervin's situation from the New York Post. 

He’s been to 10 NBA workouts, including one a few years ago with the Philadelphia 76ers he felt was his best. An All-American out of Robeson, Ervin would like to play in Europe next season. Australia, he said, made that a possibility.

Ervin, who had previously played in the NBADL and Premier Basketball League in Canada, said he enjoyed his experience down under, though he mostly kept to himself.

“Getting MVP speaks for itself; that was one of the things I strived for,” he said. “It was a great stepping stone to get my career off to where I wanted it to be.”

• Subsequent to the departure of outgoing General Manager Bob Turner, the Sydney Kings announced the appointment of passionate club man David Wolf as the team's new GM. Wolf, who has a strong history with the club in many capacities, brings his wealth of global communications experience to the role of Head of Sales & Commercial which will see him pursue sponsorship opportunities for the Kings. The team has previously been unable to secure a naming rights sponsor since their rebirth last year. Sydney Kings Executive Director Stephen Dunn, himself with a solid hand on the reigns of the club's management team, had nothing but praise for the incoming GM: 

"David had been involved with the Sydney Kings in one role or another for the better part of 16 years and, when placed alongside his extensive corporate experience, was a natural choice for us when appointing this key commercial leadership position." Stephen said

"He is an extremely well-credentialed marketing executive with more than 15 years experience in senior management and leadership positions in Australia, North America, and Asia.David has a proven management track-record in creating measurable and memorable brand and marketing campaigns, negotiating substantial sponsorship investment, and enhancing the corporate reputation of every major company with which he has worked," Stephen said.

"David's global experience, and his previous first hand knowledge of conducting sponsorship negotiations with the NBL, NRL and the Commonwealth Games among many others, as well as his standing in the Australian business community, will serve the Sydney Kings' interests very well as we enter our second season back in the NBL," he added.

"David is one of those rare individuals who has been able to translate a childhood passion into a career. One of David's greatest achievements, and one that all basketball fans will appreciate, was his negotiation of the NBL naming rights sponsorship with Philips. This commitment brought stability to the game and substantial knock-on sponsorship to the Sydney Kings.

New Sydney Kings import Kevin Ratzsch sounds like the type of guy that will stop at nothing to prove that he has got game and belongs as an elite basketballer.

The 6'7" swingman signed recently with the team from the Harbour City with relatively little fanfare and plenty of "who's that?" type comments from fans, who were unfamiliar with the Northern State University product's game. But if you listen to Ratzsch, that will all change.

In a feature today in the American Chronicle, Ratzsch talks of his excitement and energy in joining Australia's National Basketball League:

"This is a high level league in a big media city in Australia," Ratzsch said in a recent e-mail with the Aberdeen American News. "I feel that all the cards are in the right place and the timing is perfect to come into the league and this is a place for me, but it could also open even bigger doors in the future."

He clearly has ambition. If you're a Kings fan, don't be disuaded by his desire to "open bigger doors in the future." I certainly would not want a player joining my team who didn't have the drive to take his game to the highest leagues in the world -- when you get non-ambitious players, that's when you see wasted talent that fails to meet expectations.

The athletic, versatile American has certainly impressed wherever he has landed so far.

He graduated from Northern State in 2009. He finished his career with 1,852 points, which is the eighth most in school history. He garnered several All-American selections following his senior campaign and was selected to play in the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Classic at the 2009 Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass.

The Kings are his fourth overseas team. He began his professional career in Ireland in the Superleague, then played in the ABA Big V in Melbourne, Australia. This past season, he played for Oviedo Spain in LEB Plata.

He averaged 14.7 points and six rebounds per game this past season playing in Spain. He was in the running for that league's MVP award before being slowed by a late season injury.

"I had a stellar year, but had to sit the last 10 of 12 games due to a muscle tear," said Ratzsch, who recently turned 25-years-old. "I had a great time and the organization really focused on the family aspect and that really helped."

He came to the attention of Australian fans at the High Stakes Hoops tournament in Adelaide a couple of years back and almost landed with the Kings for the 2010/11 season, after a tryout which Ratzsch pushed for himself. Unfortunately the Kings went in a different direction ultimately, following a known-route, rather than signing the newcomer.

"A lot of big-time players were there and I had a great showing, so that sparked interest from the NBL," Ratzsch said, "but unfortunately, I was overlooked last season. But the Kings changed their minds about me over the past year and they pursued me early on and I didn't wait for any other teams to offer. My agent and I worked only with the Kings from the get-go and I have no regrets."

Highlights of Ratzsch during the HSH tournament:

In the mould that Kings coach Ian "Moose" Robilliard loves, he has a chip on his shoulder and a clear driving ambition to prove to Sydney fans that he belongs. Surely that will make him a fan favourite.

"I've been overlooked my whole career and this is my shot to prove that I belong with the best," Ratzsch said.

Ratzsch signed a one-year contract with the Kings, but it could lead to multiple years. He will be in Aberdeen in early July for former Northern State teammate Kyle Schwan's wedding. He will later leave for Sydney in mid-August to prepare for the season.

"At the moment I'm still rehabbing my injury, so my offseason training is somewhat put on hold," he said, "but as soon as I'm cleared, I don't plan on wasting any time."

Further to my earlier article regarding Bob Turner's departure from the Sydney Kings and the road ahead for the team, the Kings have issued a press release which explains much of the road ahead for the club, particularly with reference to Head Office changes.

Sydney Kings' Executive Director, Stephen Dunn, who has a very strong financial/administration background, explains that Turner turned down a role as head of Commercial operations with the club. Wisely, the Kings have taken the next step in the club's growth, as it matures from it's rebirth into the league in 2010/11.

Turner has a history of starting up franchises from scratch -- a situation that the Kings no longer find themselves in. As such the decision to split management into three main core competencies is a sound one.

Read on for the Kings' press release:

One of the worst-kept secrets in Sydney basketball is now public: Bob Turner is leaving the Sydney Kings. The well-recognised architect of the Kings in two eras will leave the club at the end of the month when his contract comes to an end.

Discussion of Turner's departure has existed for over a month by insiders and on the OzHoops Boards as far back as 24 May.

The Sydney Morning Herald today made public the news with this short piece, which indicates that the decision was made by Turner himself.

Asked last night if rumours of his departure were true, Turner replied ''no comment''.

However, club spokesman Mark Wells said Turner would not be at the club next season.

''Bob's contract expires on June 30 and he's elected not to renew that deal,'' Wells said.

''Bob's made a major contribution to the club with all his hard work, especially last year, and he played a huge role in getting the club up to where it is today. The club obviously appreciates everything that he's done.''

Of course, any time that a General Manager leaves a professional sports franchise, there is the very real likelihood that s/he has had a disagreement with the Board of the team -- or "artistic differences", as some may call it in showbiz. In short, the GM and the Board of Directors need to be on the same page as to where the club is headed -- whether that be in regard to player signings, or the securing of major sponsors and the like.

Having been aware of the news for some time, I'd chosen not to publicise it, with the hope that the team would secure a replacement GM prior to the public announcement of the departure of one of the outward facing personalities of the team, linked to the "glory days" of Sydney Kings basketball. Unfortunately, it seems that a replacement has not yet been sourced.

The club confirmed the search for a new general manager would commence immediately.

The writing has been on the wall for some time however, with astute observers likely to have noticed as far back as last month that the signing of Aaron Bruce was not met with the usual combination of Turner and head coach Ian Robilliard making the announcement, but solely Moose himself. The same has applied throughout the announcements of import swingman Kevin Ratzsch and Aussie small forwards Anatoly Bose and Alex Gynes.

What does this mean for the club? Certainly, a recognised face amongst many corporate sponsors and old-time fans on game night is gone. As for what impact that has on sponsorships, that remains to be seen. Essentially, the Kings are still the product they were last year, so any change in sales would only be perception-based.

If this makes for smoother running behind the scenes with the Board, the Player Selection Committe and the like, then of course it is the right move to have been made. As for who did the pushing or the jumping, that will likely never be publicly declared. Nor should it.

Where do the Sydney Kings stand right now? In terms of playing roster, the team is anchored inside by star big man and 2010/11 MVP runner-up Julian Khazzouh. The big fella is an unstoppable beast at the NBL level. He currently is showing his wares in the USA with a selection of NBA clubs (read an interview with Khazzouh here prior to his departure) and as long as faint rumours of his breaking his contract to take up a European offer are false, the Kings will continue to have the advantage of one of the league's elite players inside in 2011/12.

The roster is stacked at the point guard, shooting guard and small forward positions. For as many players as there are in those spots, there are question marks. In no particular order:

• How will Luke Cooper (PG) look upon returning from injury? He was invited to Australian Boomers camp with Brett Brown, but followed that up with sub-standard performance in the Waratah League.
• The arrival of Aaron Bruce (PG) brings much promise -- however which Bruce will we see, the Boomers squad member, or the one that took a year away from the game? A full off-season of training and preparation surely will do him good. I look forward to a career best season from him.
• Luke Martin (PG) brings stability to the backcourt, having served the Kings well in the past. Will we see any decline in his game this season and how many minutes will he be afforded by Robilliard?
• Ben Madgen (SG) has just come off a bit-role with the Boomers and a Rookie of the Year season. Will he take an even bigger step forward in 2011/12?
• Alex Gynes (SG/SF) and Anatoly Bose (SG/SF) are relative unknowns to many Sydney basketball observers, despite their roots in the region. Both come off successful USA college careers, with Bose in particular being a star and likely to make an impact in the NBL. How much impact they both make will be interesting to see.
• Kevin Ratzsch (SG/SF/PF) is not the type of import that Kings fans are used to seeing. A player with a great all-round game, I have a feeling that his hustle and ability to contribute across the board will make him both a fan and coach favourite, despite the no-frills story he arrives with.

Outside of those players, Graeme Dann is currently the only player really capable of helping Khazzouh out in the front court. The Kings' Defensive Player of the Year in 2010/11 will no doubt bring his rebounding, defensive hustle and ability to split defences off the dribble to the purple and gold again this season. The big question centres around the second import who will be secured to assist in the front court.

There is no question that a powerful four-man along the lines of Ira Clark is needed to fill that spot. As to whether that type of player is easily obtainable on the market is another story. With an impending NBA lockout, the Kings may be lucky in using an over-supply of fringe-NBA talent to their advantage in this recruiting process. Of course, not having a full-time GM on board can sometimes hinder those attempts!

In addition, the team will need a backup big man to rotate with the import, Dann and Khazzouh through the power forward and centre positions. 2010/11 captain, Ben Knight is the obvious choice for that role, although no announcements have been made to that affect as yet.

Head Coach Robilliard will be on the sidelines again this season, with assistant Tim Hudson by his side. With a full season under his belt as an NBL head coach, he will be able to stamp his persona on this club even more -- focusing on his principles of teamwork and hustle.

There is plenty of time left in the NBL off-season and plenty of news yet to come. Kings fans wait eagerly, as they farewell Bob Turner. The new season tips off on October 7 as the Kings travel to Melbourne to take on the Tigers, before returning to the Kingdome on October 15 to host the 2011 Champion New Zealand Breakers.