Tom Maher
Inducted as a Coach in 2006
He 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.
- 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
