RANDY Shanklin returned from an overseas trip last week to one of the toughest jobs in the Victorian Basketball League.
Shanklin will coach both the Altona Gators men’s and women’s teams after the club’s plans were thrown into chaos.
The Gators had their coaches set for the year with Shanklin slated as women’s coach and Adam Steere leading the men.
But those plans changed recently when Steere was offered a lucrative job in Malaysia, one too good to refuse.
“It’s unfortunate for us, but fortunate for him and his family,” Shanklin said. “He didn’t find out till late January and trying to find a coach at that stage is tough.” Shanklin is ready to embrace the dual role, which isn’t an unfamiliar challenge for the American.
It reminded him of the first time he landed in Australia.
“My first three years in Australia, I was player-coach on a men’s team and coached the women’s team as well when I was in Echuca,” he said.
“I coached both teams to the finals every year, so I’m sure we can work it out.”
The Big V season begins this weekend.
The Gators men’s side will rely more heavily on youth when it takes to the court against the Melbourne University Black Angels at the Altona Sports Centre on Sunday.
Youth and a lack of experience, however, will not be used as an excuse by the Gators.
“I don’t do development-type situations, to be honest with you,” Shanklin said. “I think if you’re in that league, you go out and compete.
“We had senior guys last year and we finished on the bottom of the ladder.
“I don’t think age and experience has as much to do with it as going out with the passion to play. That will be different about this group [compared with] the previous three or four years even.”
The Gators’ key recruit is forward John-Paul Wilkinson, a Melbourne Tigers development player in his younger years, who arrives from the strong SEABL competition.
“He’ll be a solid addition to our team,” Shanklin said.
“His size, ability and athleticism allows us to be a bit more flexible with him.” The Lady Gators have a difficult road ahead: they face the Latrobe City Energy on Saturday night.
The bulk of last season’s finals team has departed and there will be an over-reliance on youth.
“We’re very young. We lost about 13 players in the off-season and that’s going to be tough for us,” Shanklin said. “We lost a lot of division 1 girls.”
Ashleigh Richardson, so important in the women’s youth league’s run to the grand final last season, is tipped to relish the step-up in grade.
Jayne-Marie Sant and Ashley Patterson will also play important roles.
Shanklin said his role was to “fast-track” the development of this young team so it can be competitive in a tough division.
