Brett Brown has informed Basketball Australia that he will no longer be able to perform his duties as Australian Boomers head coach for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
Due to a change in his personal circumstances over recent months, Brown is unable to commit to the men’s national team Olympic campaign and has made the difficult decision to step down from this role. In confirming the news, Basketball Australia CEO Jerril Rechter AM said, “Basketball Australia is naturally disappointed that Brett is no longer able to commit to being the Boomers head coach for the delayed Tokyo Olympics but we fully understand Brett’s situation, and appreciate his candidness when informing us of the decision. “The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a challenging environment for all sports in which to operate. The Tokyo Olympics is an important event for Basketball Australia and our male athletes, as collectively we believe the Boomers have an excellent opportunity to claim their first ever Olympic medal. “Basketball Australia will commence recruitment for this position in the coming period, with details of the process to be released in due course,” concluded Rechter. Speaking upon his decision to step away from the role, Brett Brown said, “Whilst I have a deep and long-standing passion for Australian Basketball, I am currently unable to commit to coaching the Boomers at next year’s Olympic Games. The uncertainties around the direction of my professional future unfortunately mean that I cannot commit to the time and preparation that this job deserves and requires. The difficulties around traveling internationally with my family during the pandemic have also contributed to my decision.” "It is important for me to give Basketball Australia, the Coach, and players, the necessary time for a full and thorough Olympic Games preparation in the event that the Games do proceed. “This was a difficult decision which did not come easy. My past experiences with the current Boomer players are among my most memorable as a coach. To coach the Boomers was a privilege and an honour. I will work closely with Basketball Australia in any way that I can to ensure a smooth and successful transition,” concluded Brown. Brown was appointed to the role of Australian Boomers head coach for Tokyo Olympics on 26 November 2019, with the Games originally set to take place from 24 July – 9 August 2020. Due to the current pandemic, the International Olympic Committee postponed the 2020 Olympics, with the event later rescheduled for 23 July – 8 August 2021. Both the Australian Boomers and Chemist Warehouse Australian Opals have already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
