Joe Prunty officially named Head Coach of GB Men’s Basketball

His name has been mentioned on numerous occasions tying him in with the vacant position, but this afternoon British Basketball confirmed that Joe Prunty has formally taken on the role.

Prunty brings with him NBA experience which began in 1996 as an assistant video coordinator for San Antonio Spurs through to being appointed assistant coach with Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2010. He has been a part of NBA Championship winning Spurs sides in 1999, 2003 and 2005, before joining up with Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazer and most recently Cavaliers.

Speaking on British Basketball’s website, he seemed buoyant over the prospect of going into this summer: “It is truly an honour to be appointed as Head Coach of the Great Britain Men’s National Team. Every person I have spoken with has shown tremendous passion and enthusiasm for the programme. This is an important time for GB Basketball and the opportunity for all of us is extremely exciting heading into EuroBasket 2013.

“I am grateful to all the people involved who have entrusted me with this position. I am looking forward to working with the players, coaches, and staff members who comprise the GB family.”

Also joining Prunty are a number of other appointments, which will be of some relief to have finally been announced with only a short amount of time before Eurobasket tips off come early September.

Bill Beswick has joined up as Performance Psychologist, a similar role he has undertaken for England Rugby, the England football team and other prolific sides including Manchester United. Beswick has previously been head coach to the England men’s basketball team.

Calvin Morris comes in as Strength and Conditioning Coach also after a spell with England Rugby as well as the UK Athletics programme and their Olympic athletes. Mark Gillett will once more be Head of Science and Medicine while Fraser McKinney also returns as Physiotherapist.

Mark Lloyd will take up the position of Team Manager for the senior men’s side, a role which he already has had the pleasure of getting to grips with at U20 level.

British Basketball’s National Teams Director, Warwick Cann highlighted that the appointments are key to the progress of the side moving forward: “We are aiming for a first class programme which enables players to perform at their very best. Recruitment of good staff has been central to what we are building.”