Brendan Joyce
Brendan Joyce is a former basketball player and previous coach of the Australian National Basketball League Wollongong Hawks and more recently Gold Coast Blaze.
Born in Melbourne, Victoria growing up playing both Basketball and Australian Rules Football he recieved an offer to play for the North Melbourne Kangeroos. However, Joyce decided to continue his Basketball and went on to become a top National Basketball League player. Joyce played 289 games in the NBL for Nunawading Spectres (1979-1982) (1985-1987), Westside Melbourne Saints (1983-1984) (1988-1990), Brisbane Bullets (1991).
Captaining both Nunawading and the Westside Melbourne Saints. Moving onto coaching following his playing career Joyce has been one of the most successful coaches in the Australian National Basketball League.
Playing Career
Joyce began his senior NBL playing career with the Nunawading Spectres in the NBL inaugural year 1979. He was a contributing member In 1981 of the Nunawading side that lost to Launcestion Casino City in the Grand Final that season. Joyce played in an NBL final series eight times throughout his career. Averaging 8.8 points per game, 5. 6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2 steals. Career high 30 points vs. Melbourne Tigers (1985), career high 19 assists vs. Syndney Kings 1985, career high 8 three point shots made vs. Hobart (1990)
Coaching Career
Brendan Joyce began his professional coaching career with the Wollongong Hawks after coaching the Ballarat Miners to two consecutive SEABL Championships (1994/1995). Joyce led Wollongong Hawks to their first NBL championship in 2001, the Wollongong Hawks were also the first New South Wales team to win a NBL Championship. This success was followed by another grand final berth in 2005 with a loss to the Sydney Kings. In all Joyce led the Hawks to the final four seven times during his tenure with the Hawks. In 2007-08 Joyce became the inaugural coach of the Gold Coast Blaze, leading them to the playoffs in their first year and was named the Gold Coast region Coach of the Year and was again a runner up for the NBL Coach of the Year.
In 2002 Brendan Joyce was named as Assistant Coach in the Australian Mens Boomers team, fulfilling this role until 2008. Attending two Olympic Games, Athens in 2004 and Beijing 2008 as well as the Japan 2006 World Championships and assisting in leading the Boomers to their Gold Medal win at the Commonwealth Games in his home town Melbourne in 2006.
NBL Awards
Winner of Most Assists (1988)
Two time NBL All Star (1988/1989)
NBL Coach of the Year (1999/2001)
NBL Coach of the Year Runner Up (2005/2008)
National Recognition
Australian Boomers Squad member (1981/1988)
Australian U23 Captain (1981)
Australian U20 team (1978-79)
Australian Boomers Assistant Coach (2002-2008)