SIMON Pritchard is the new coach of the Bendigo Spirit.
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The former Adelaide Lightning and University of Canberra Capitals assistant coach will be unveiled as Bernie Harrower’s replacement at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Pritchard will be a rookie head coach at Women’s National Basketball League level, but he has coached men’s and women’s teams to multiple championships at state league level in South Australia as well as being an assistant coach for the Australian women’s under-17 team.
Pritchard was selected for the Spirit job ahead of a field that included Harrower’s former assistant Jonathan Goodman.
Pritchard’s first assignment will be to talk to the Spirit’s playing roster about their plans for next season.
Most of the roster is contracted for next season, but there has been speculation about the playing futures of young guns Tessa Lavey and Sara Blicavs.
Pritchard’s coaching staff is yet to be finalised.
Goodman, Andrea Walsh and Kristi Harrower were Bernie Harrower’s assistant coaches last season.
Kristi is no chance of being involved with the club next season, while Goodman and Walsh remain involved in Bendigo at SEABL level with the Lady Braves and Braves respectively.
Pritchard’s appointment comes hot on the heels of the announcement of Adam Tarr as the club’s new general manager.