Geelong United Basketball is proud to announce the coaching appointments for our VJBL Legacy teams for the upcoming 2025/26 season.
U12 Boys Hutchison – Angus Forsyth
A long-time contributor to Geelong United’s VJBL program, Angus steps into the U12 Legacy role after a successful 2025 season leading our U14B2 team into VJL1 and a number of years assisting our U14 boys Legacy team in VC. He is also part of the Youth League Men’s coaching staff and a lead coach in our Pathway Performance Programs.
U12 Girls Chandler – Mark Ridgway
Mark brings over 20 years of coaching experience, including five years as Coaching Director at Frankston and three years as their Senior Women’s Coach. After overseeing our U12 Girls age group in 2025, he now takes the reins of our U12 Girls Legacy team and build up the whole of our U12 girls age group.
U14 Boys Riches – DeMarcus Gatlin
Our long-term NBL1 Men’s import and captain returns to the VJBL Pathway Program to lead the U14 Boys. In 2024, DeMarcus guided this playing group to a Division 1 title at Junior Country Champs and a 3rd place finish at the National Junior Classic. We are excited to have DeMarcus back in our VJBL program to guide our next wave of players.
U14 Girls Dandy – Jaz Shelley
We are thrilled to welcome WNBL and NBL1 captain Jaz Shelley to our VJBL coaching ranks. With experience spanning college basketball, junior national teams, the WNBA, and WNBL, Jaz will bring elite-level insight and leadership to our U14 Girls program.
U16 Boys Green – Leigh Rowbottom
Leigh returns to lead the U16 Boys after a standout 2025 season, which included a Division 1 Country Champs win and a 4th place finish at the National Junior Classic. In 2025 Leigh was also a part of both our Youth league men’s coaching staff and SDP, giving him all the insights to help our players take the next step in their basketball careers.
U16 Girls Morrissy – Chad Suphamongkol
Chad steps up to lead the U16 Girls after a strong year with our U14 Girls, guiding them to finals in VJL1. He is also part of our Youth League Women’s staff and involved in the State Development Program, positioning him to connect our U16 Girls with both state and senior pathways.
U18 Boys Herbert – Ainslie Howard
Ainslie continues her leadership of the U18 Boys after guiding them into VC in 2025 and seeing multiple players selected for State, Victoria Select, and Australia Select tour teams. She is also a coach within Basketball Victoria’s state program and our NBL1 program, helping to further connect our Junior Pathway program into Seniors.
U18 Girls De Grandi – Courtney Burke
Courtney steps up to lead the U18 Girls after a successful 2025 season with our U18 Girls 2 team, which reached finals in VJL1. Courtney is also a part of our Youth League coaching staff and the Basketball Victoria Accelerated Women’s in Coaching program, putting her in a strong position to guide our U18 girls for a strong 2026 season.
