The Taylor Hawks have moved quickly to replace coach Zico Coronel and start building the ingredients they no doubt will help take them back to the big dance again in Sal's NBL season 2020.
With Coronel recently announcing he was set to return to the nation's capital, this time as head coach of the Wellington Saints , the Hawks commenced a wide-reaching search for a replacement and in Irishman Daniel Nelson they believe they have found their man.
Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Nelson most recently worked with Parma Basket Perm in the VTB United League, the top tier of men’s professional basketball in Russia, where he served as Assistant Coach of Parma.1 and Head Coach of Parma.2 for the 2018/19 season.
Previously, Nelson has coached in the German Bundesliga and NBBL with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and Porsche BBA, and also in Germany with Pro B team, Giants Nördlingen. He has coached in the United Kingdom BBL with Leeds Force, and the Australian NBL and WSBL with the Perth Wildcats and the Cockburn Cougars.
Having been involved in basketball for 17 years in multiple roles; Head Coach, Development Manager, Assistant Coach, Coach Educator and Video Scout, Coach Nelson holds multiple coaching licenses.
The new Hawks leader has also had a taste of international basketball as a video scout with the Australian Boomers for pre-season training camps in Perth, friendly games against China and for preparation games in Croatia, Lithuania and Slovenia. Working also in his home country, he has contributed as an Assistant Coach with Irish National Teams.
Additionally Coach Nelson has been working the last four summers in Italy and the USA testing the athletic abilities and physical measurements of the top 50 American and top 50 International NBA Draft prospects.
Nelson's appointment leaves only three teams yet to make a formal coaching announcement for 2020 - the Nelson Giants, where Mike Fitchett is expected to return, the Taranaki Mountainairs, where a coaching announcement seems imminent, and the Franklin Bulls, where a number of potential candidates appear to be in line for the top job.
