FORMER Launceston Tornadoes player Rebecca Dick said returning to coach the club was like being reunited with her family.
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A Tornadoes player in 2003-04, Dick has been involved in basketball for 15 years and assumes the role after last year's coach Rick Wyllie decided to have a break from the club.
Dick, who has been coaching for seven years since a knee injury ended her playing career, will bring a wealth of knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm to the Tornadoes when
she relocates from Somerset in January to become head coach for 2011.
"I am excited to be part of the Tornadoes family again,'' she said.
"My focus is to build on the great base that we currently have by growing the professional environment in which the team operates.
"We need to continually work on providing our local junior athletes with the best opportunity to continue to develop their game.''
Dick's coaching file includes Tasmanian youth teams, international tours with the AIS and NITP, two years with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport and numerous Australian junior
development camps.
Tornadoes officials were disappointed to hear that Wyllie was stepping down after taking the club to last season's SEABL grand final.
"This is a decision that I have given considerable thought to before concluding that it is time for me to move on,'' Wyllie said.
Club chairman David Thyne responded: ``Rick is a big loss to our club, he is a true Tornado and we will certainly miss him. We are, however, very lucky and really excited about
securing Rebecca to coach our club.
"We are particularly excited by the fact that Bec as a previous player, is already a Torn. Bec's experience includes working within Basketball Tasmania, and at the AIS as a scholarship
coach which included experiencing coaching at WNBL and junior world championship levels.
"This means that Bec brings to the Launceston Tornadoes up to date knowledge and experience of the modern day game of basketball. We believe her expertise is invaluable to
our local juniors, and one of the critical factors in ensuring the future success of women's basketball in Tasmania.''
Dates and venues for the club's first training session will be advertised in the next few weeks.