New Victoria Marvels coach Jason Bryant is hoping to create something to bring more opportunities and a bigger focus to wheelchair basketball.
After having a women’s side last year, Basketball Victoria has launched the Victoria Marvels men’s side, who will compete in the National Wheelchair Basketball League.
Bryant, who has been heavily involved in wheelchair basketball pathways, and basketball in Melbourne’s west, will be the inaugural coach.
Bryant said this was an exciting time for wheelchair basketball in Victoria.
“Something that has been missing in Victoria is the pathway,” he said.
“It’s an important component to have the full connection from grassroots through to high performance.
“I’ve been pushing to have a team for a long time. I’ve coached the state junior team the last four years and been involved at the Victorian Institute of Sport.
“It’s the logical step for me to step up and I’m excited.”
Bryant said Kilsyth used to have men’s and women’s teams on the national stage but that stopped during Covid.
With the introduction of a men’s team this season, Victoria is set to be one of only two states with both men’s and women’s sides in the national competition this season.
Bryant said it was an exciting opportunity to shape how the program goes forward
“There’s the opportunity to build the culture from the ground up,” he said. “To get good people in and build the program.
“We want to build something substantial and something that people want to be a part of.
“I want to make it an attractive thing for years to come and people want to be involved.”
The formation of the team comes after the inaugural season of the Victorian Wheelchair Basketball League.
Bryant, was an assistant coach at Wyndham, which made the grand final in year one.
He was also Wyndham’s Big V women’s championship coach last year.
Bryant said having Wyndham involved in the Victorian league was massive for athletes from Melbourne’s west.
“It was really exciting and having that state league team plugged a gap,” he said.
“They were having to drive to Kilsyth or Geelong.
“It was a short program but it opened opportunities in the west.
“With me being involved in the high performance team gives us a presence out here … it opens doors.”
Bryant, who is starting to put together the Marvel team, said the side could be a stepping stone for people to take that next step or play at a higher level than before.
“We want to be something to be proud of.”
