Coach Allen can't stand idle, steps up at Eagles

After 25 years of coaching, Coach Craig Allen decided to take a break, but he found being idle harder than expected.  After just one season of standing on the sideline, he began to get itchy feet and Eagles club president, Tim Symons, was there to entice him to step up and take on the women’s 2023 NBL1 Head coaching position. “He sold me on the club direction and desire to grow and be successful in all aspects. It’s something that I’m keen to be a part of”, said Craig.

And the Eagles are very happy to have secured a highly experienced coach to head-up the women’s program. An avid instructor with experience in successful teams at national, state and representative levels including SBL and WAFL premierships. “I’ve been lucky enough to coach at a number of National Championships with a good few high placed finishes, the best result being a Bronze Medal in 2019, something I’m pretty proud of considering WA have only won 2 medals in the girls program over the last 20+ years “. Coach Allen says basketball and football have always been his passions.

The women’s NBL1 program moved to a focus in developing junior talent in the club with six contracted players coming from the junior program. With this experience and credentials, Craig attracted some senior talent to Eagles to provide leadership and support on the court. 2021 League Highest Scorer Sam Lubke joined the team, together with Taylor Roberts, Maddison Allen, up-and-comer Sarah Allen, and New Zealand recruit Tessa Morrison.

The team was off to a strong start and garnered success at the start of the 2023 season, but found themselves under difficult circumstances as the season progressed. Sam suffered a concussion in round one that saw her benched for most of the season, while illness and injury plagued others. Even then, the team managed to remain in the top 8 on the ladder for the majority of the season. There have equally been battles on the court and off court with Craig receiving a cancer diagnosis and undoing surgery prior to the start of the season and staying the course throughout the season while undertaking chemo and immunotherapy.  In reflecting on the 2023 season Craig recalled, “It was a difficult year in more ways than one but considering these issues we have made some good strides in the right direction. We have many more steps to make to become the success we all want but there is no doubt the foundations to build toward being a strong successful program have been established.”

Finals appearances have eluded the women’s team for the last two seasons when in 2021, the Eagles finished the regular season placing fourth on the table. When asked about his expectations for the 2024 season, coach Allen replied “We very much want to be competing at the top end of the competition and not just for the odd year or two but for the foreseeable future “. Coach Allen remains strong and focused on the times ahead. “We have some very good core components to our group and with a few extra pieces, and good growth and development from our young group, we will be an extremely competitive squad“

Craig committed to a five-year program at the Eagles, and will embark on his second season with the club in 2024.  “The support from Tim and the club was outstanding and left me in no doubt about the commitment to work towards the success the club desires.”