The Darwin Salties have appointed Matt Flinn as their inaugural NBL1 North men's head coach.
Flinn is a nationally recognised NBL coach with over 25 years of experience.
He is the Current Director of the recently announced Hoops Capital Academy for the Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames professional basketball teams.
Flinn was appointed Head Coach of the Illawarra Hawks after over 350 consecutive games as an assistant coach, with two grand finals appearances and eight playoff appearances as a coach or player.
As a Hawks player, Flinn set an NBL record for the longest time between NBL games (1995) and made a comeback in 2014.
Whilst playing and coaching, Flinn studied a Bachelor of Education Degree at Wollongong University in 1997,
Most recently, Flinn was tasked with being the rookie Head Coach of the Illawarra Hawks in the 2019-20 season, successfully recruiting and mentoring Lamelo Ball, guiding him through his first experience of professional elite basketball and ultimately becoming #3 pick in the NBA draft.
He said he can't wait to make the move up north for the 2022 NBL1 season.
"I'm really looking forward to this journey," Flinn said.
"I've been around basketball for a long time and talking to Kerri and John from NT Basketball and DBA and the plans that they've got a plan in place and the vision they've got for what basketball can do in Darwin, not only next year but for the next four to five years, is really exciting.
"It's an absolute pleasure and a privilege to do what we do in basketball.
"My first and foremost thought process is to develop the amazing talent in Darwin, I've heard such good things about the talent.
"There has never been a legimiate linear pathway for them so it's just so exciting that we have that NBL1 team."
