Frankston Trio Sign Coaching Extension

Frankston Blues (FDBA) are incredibly proud and excited to announce that the NBL1 Men's coaching team have extended their contracts for two more years, through to the end of the 2026 Season. (Andrew Harms Committed until 2024).

The trio of; Andrew Harms, Adam Jackson and Paul Groat have been an integral part of our club since 2018. Harms will continue to Head Coach the NBL1 Men while overseeing the Senior Men's program (NBL1, Youth League, Under '20s). Paul Groat will continue to Team Manage the NBL1 Men. Adam Jackson's Assistant Coaching role has officially extended to playing roster recruitment, retainment and identification of local talent.

In their tenor, the three have accomplished a considerable amount of both on and off-court success through a mixture of exciting and challenging times.

In 2019 our NBL1 Men won the club's first final in ten years; in 2020 and 2021, they led from the front through challenging times, including the Covid-cancelled seasons, and in 2022 the Men came runners-up at the NBL1 National Championship, after winning the NBL1 Wildcard Series.

Individually they have each had significant achievements.

Andrew Harms has received the NBL1 2019 Coach of the Year Award and NBL1 2019 All-Star games coaching honours against the international Chinese talent and the 2019 NBL Blitz against Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets. 

Paul Groat is now Basketball Victoria's 'State Teams and Metro High-Performance Administrator', in 2022, he won another National Championship with Victorian Metro Under 16s Men and received FDBA Life Membership for his contributions to the Association from grassroots to elite.

And Assistant Coach Adam Jackson continues to shock the league year after year, with the profile of talent he brings to Frankston's NBL1 Men's playing roster, including Olympians David Andersen and Brad Newley.

FDBA's Manager - Frankston Blues, Daniel Spangler, spoke about the extension.

"It has been a personal honour to be able to re-sign Harmsy, Jacko and Paulie and honour their commitment to the FDBA."

"In particular, the entire club and Association should be proud of Andrew's pathway at the FDBA. He is someone that first touched a ball at Bardia Avenue, played Junior Blues, went overseas to play college basketball, won a SEABL Conference Championship (2009) and then returned to Head Coach the Senior Men, with much success."

"His professional skill set perfectly complements coaching community sport, and we look forward to him working further with Duncan Berg (Youth League Head Coach) in developing the next generation of Frankston Blues' athletes as they transition from junior to senior basketball."

"He is a spokesperson and face for our club, and someone that stands for what we to stand for."

Andrew Harms spoke on behalf of the trio. 

'The club came to me at the start of the year about extending Jacko, Paulie and myself for a further two years (four in total), and it was an easy yes from us. As a whole club, we have created a program that blends high-performing athlete-centred opportunities & resources with high-impact community-focused projects, allowing us to be a sustained model of success on and off the court."

"We are grateful to CEO Wayne Holdsworth, Manager - Frankston Blues Daniel Spangler, FDBA President Tim Bower and the entire FDBA Board for the opportunity to continue leading and supporting the next generation of Blues stars on the hardwood and in the community."

"Lastly, we would like to thank our respective families for supporting us throughout the journey so far and looking forward to sharing in the future successes of Blues basketball with our loved ones."