Tom Maher
Hall of Fame Class: 2006 Role: Coach
Tom Maher was the first coach to lead Australia to a senior basketball medal of any colour and coached the Opals at two Olympic Games, winning a bronze and a silver medal.
He coached the National Women’s team at two World Championships; The Opals’ reputation was firmly established in 1998 after they winning a bronze medal at the international competition.
Maher is recognised as the most successful coach in the history of the WNBL, winning 6 championships and two Coach of the Year awards.
He also became the first foreign coach in the WNBA, paving the way for Australian coaches in leagues around the world.
Achievements
– Has coached six winning WNBL Championship Teams.
– The first coach to lead Australia to a senior basketball medal of any colour.
– Firmly established the world-class reputation of the Opals.
– As Coach of the Opals they are an outstanding 149 and 43, which is a 77.6 win percentage.
– Has been the most successful coach in history of the WNBL.
– Has the best record in WNBL history (182/55) which is a 76.8 win percentage.
– First foreign coach in the WNBA.
– Earned Coach of the Year in honours in 1987 and 1992.
– Coached the Opals at two World Championships – 1994, 1998.
– Coached the Opals at two Olympic Games – 1996, 2000.
– Won an Olympic bronze and silver medal – 1996, 2000.
– Won a World Championship bronze medal in 1998.
– Inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2006.
