Six time Olympic Games coach Tom Maher has officially been included in the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Standing as the most successful WNBL coach in the history of the game, having coached nine teams to the championship including a four-peat with the Nunawading Spectres from 1986-89, Maher adds this Hall of Fame inclusion to a highly decorated career. Known most famously for achieving the Australian Opals first two medal tallies at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games and planting the Opals on the global basketball scene at the World Championships, Maher acknowledges that his career has been a result of working alongside incredible people along the way. "I've coached wonderful, wonderful players, amazing talents from all over the world, I got to yell at them, coach them and have a drink with them now and again, so it was a wonderful experience. I also got to meet some remarkable leaders and players, there's just too many to name, I'm in awe of them. How sincere and humble I feel about this great honour, I thank you from the bottom on my heart." Maher is the only Australian joining eleven major worldwide basketball names to form the Class of 2021. He has previously been honoured in Basketball Australia's 2006 Hall of Fame. Some of Maher's key achievements include:
- 2 x Olympic Games Medals-Coach.
- 9 x WNBL Championship Coach.
- 1 x World Championship Medal- Coach.
- WNBL Coach of the Year 1987 & 1992.
- First foreign WNBA coach.
- Basketball Australia Hall of Fame 2006.
