NBL1 Cairns Marlins Head Coach Announced

Following the appointment of Myra Donkin as player-coach of the women’s team, Cairns Basketball Inc. is pleased to reveal that The Ground Cairns Marlins Head Coach for the inaugural NBL1 North season is Kerry Williams.  

A huge part of the basketball fabric of Far North Queensland, Williams manages the Taipans’ successful Indigenous Program (TIP) and is Basketball Queensland’s State Performance Officer for Cairns.

The 33-year-old has been building his coaching resume over the past five years, notably as BQ’s Women’s U20’s Head Coach for two years, as well as Head Coach of the Cairns Dolphins for two seasons. 

Most recently, Williams was selected to the Australian Boomers as an assistant and won the 2021 FIBA Qualifier game against the New Zealand Tall Blacks.

Williams said that he was extremely grateful for the opportunity, and that he was privileged to become the first Head Coach of the Marlins that also started their basketball journey at Cairns Basketball as a junior.

“I couldn’t be happier to take on this role and I’m thankful for all the opportunities that Cairns Basketball have afforded me throughout my career,” he said.

“I started playing on these courts as a 15-year-old kid so to come full circle and now be coaching the senior men’s team is surreal. I’m obviously biased but I believe that the Marlins are one of the best basketball teams in the country and I’m really proud to still be involved.”

The former Taipans player notched 105 NBL games in orange and boasts three titles with the Marlins – including the 2004 national Australian Basketball Association Championship alongside Aron Baynes, Nate Jawai and Aaron Grabau.

Williams won the ABA championship and Queensland Basketball League (QBL) twice (2004, 2007) as well as another state QBL Championship (2009).

The NBL1 North season begins in Cairns from May 15. Click HERE for schedule.