Community Spotlight Series: Lateisha Minichilli – Surfcoasters
GUB’s Community Spotlight Series aims to shine a light on our community clubs that make up the majority of our weekly competitions.
We’ll be checking in with all club presidents to find out not only about them, but also some club history and what’s happening behind the scenes.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how long you’ve been affiliated with the club?
Basketball has been a huge part of my life for many years, both as a player and coach. I first started coaching my son’s Under 8 team, and now he is playing seniors. Since then, I have coached across all levels of the sport from U8s through to seniors, both domestically and at representative level. I have proudly been part of the Surfcoasters Basketball Club community for nearly 6 years.
I have worked across a wide range of age groups and competition levels, from grassroots through to representative basketball. As a coach, I focus on skill development, game awareness, and building a positive team culture while helping young athletes grow in confidence, ability, and character.
What area of Geelong does club the represent?
Surfcoasters Basketball Club represents the Surf Coast region, including Torquay, Jan Juc, Bellbrae, Anglesea, Moriac and surrounding areas, while welcoming players from across the wider Geelong region.
How long has your club been operational for and what are some of the historical milestones for the club?
Surfcoasters Basketball Club was established in 2002 with support from Basketball Geelong and Basketball Victoria Country. What started as a small representative-focused club has grown into a large community basketball club servicing the Surf Coast and wider Geelong region.
Over the past 20+ years, the club has grown to nearly 60 teams across junior and senior competitions, expanded its girls’ programs, and introduced successful All Abilities teams to support inclusive participation within the basketball community.
What does the future hold for your club?
The future of Surfcoasters Basketball Club is focused on continued growth, development, and creating stronger pathways for players of all ages and abilities. The club aims to keep expanding its junior and senior programs, further develop girls’ basketball, continue building inclusive programs such as All Abilities basketball, and expand our Men’s and Women’s Championship programs to create strong pathways for our junior players.
A major focus moving forward is supporting coaches, enhancing player development opportunities, and maintaining the strong community culture
