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Goorjian to depart: "Time to move away"

Goorjian to depart: "Time to move away"

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

"When I get off the plane I walk away feeling proud of my contribution over the 16 years I’ve been involved with the Boomers."

The Australian Boomers will be on the search for a new coach, after Brian Goorjian confirmed he’d be moving away from the head role.

Goorjian and the Boomers bowed out of the Olympic tournament with an overtime loss to Serbia on Wednesday morning, Australian time, and the 71-year-old said it was always the plan to help the team during its “re-build” process, before ultimately departing. 

“I think I’ve been an important piece of this process, and it’s time to move away,” Goorjian said. 

“When I get off the plane I walk away feeling proud of my contribution over the 16 years I’ve been involved with the Boomers.”

When Goorjian initially stepped away from the Boomers coaching role following the 2008 Beijing Olympics, some thought he may never return to the national team.

He returned in 2020 though when the team was entering an era of change, where careers collided, with the core group from Rio's heartbreak nearing their end and a new emerging group coming through.

"The decision was, do you want to be part of this journey of the rebuild?," Goorjian said. 

He had seen this 'changing of the guard' moment before, when the likes of Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal had moved on, and knew it was a delicate moment in Australian basketball history.

"Because the Olympics and the World Cup were so close together, and due to covid ... this was always the plan."

Goorjian led Australia to its first ever Olympic medal in Tokyo, winning bronze. With the Boomers falling short once again, all eyes turn on what's next for Australian basketball, at a time when there's arguably never been more up-and-coming talent.

"Now we're on a new journey. These young guys get their first taste of this, and compete the way they did in this tournament. I think the future is bright," Goorjian said.

"I like the group I finished with and I like the group that's there moving forward... I think it's a really exciting time for Australian basketball." 

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