NEW Newcastle Hunters women's coach Chloe Mullaney has a ton of experience as a player and more recently guiding junior representative teams to success.
And while Mullaney plans to put her own imprint on what shapes as an exciting new group, the former WNBL forward won't be afraid to lean on others for help.
Mullaney is close friends with Opals legends Suzy Batkovic and Lauren Jackson and will pick their brains when needed. Her daughter Chyra Evans is at the Basketball Australia Centre Of Excellence in Canberra while eldest son Trace is playing college basketball in the US.
"Our game will be based on aggressive, hard-nosed defence up the floor," said Mullaney, who takes the reins from Marty McLean. "Scoring options will come out of playing great defence. That will the foundation of our game, but I'm always looking to add things.
"I watch a lot of WNBL and pick things out. I look at what works for certain teams and am open to feedback from anyone.
"Suzy and Lauren I have known for a long time. The more people you can learn from the better - rather than just having one way. That has worked for me."
Mullaney was an assistant under coach Mark Gledson when the Hunters won the Waratah championship in 2016 and last year coached the under-18s to a state title.
Many of those girls are now knocking on the door of the women's side, which will almost certainly be without WNBL duo Lara McSpadden and Cassidy McLeans and a number of other senior players.
"I think it is going to be a young, enthusiastic group," Mullaney said. "Kate Kingham, Jess Relf, Amelia Raidaveta have all come through youth league in the past couple of years. Rachael McGinniskin was a huge factor in the youth team and will play again. Alison Ebzery is back in town and I plan to touch base with her. We will have our first scrimmage on Sunday and the team will be selected before Christmas."
The Waratah League tips off on April 10.
"With the league, I'm not expecting anything spectacular," Mullaney said. "I know we will keep working and keep getting better."
Rex Nottage will return for his second season in charge of Newcastle's men's team after a promising 2020 campaign was cut short because of the coronavirus crisis.
The Hunters sat equal second with a 4-1 win-loss record before pulling out of the competition on August 7 to follow NSW Government public health orders.
"The 2020 season was very stop-start and frustrating and it was disappointing to have to withdraw from the competition, although that decision was understandable under the circumstances," Nottage said.
"In saying that, on the court we were achieving some positive results and starting to come together as a group and we were confident of giving the title a shake had we stayed and played on.
"With all that in mind, there's a sense of unfinished business heading into 2021 and I'm looking forward to being a part of that and seeing how far we can go with this team."
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