Nick Haywood named North West Thunder coach

The North West Thunder have named Nick Haywood as their NBL1 South coach for the next two years.

Haywood takes over from the departing Sam Armstrong, who left the role earlier this year. Haywood has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Thunder and played a record 387 games for the club.

“Having a young family was playing a part in whether I wanted to do the job or not, and there are a few other guys on the North-West Coast who are better coaches than me in terms of their qualifications,” Haywood said via The Advocate.

“But when my wife Emma said she would support me, that helped get me over the line.

“I've also had long conversations with Mark Radford and Ben Armstrong, neither who were going to apply for the job due to other commitments, and they both said they would be in my corner as well and help me out where they can if need be.

“That started to make me think this was a challenge I was up for. They are big shoes to fill after Sam's three years in charge, but working with him was great and I think it has put me in good stead to take the reins.

“Being the point guard and captain of teams for a long time, I feel like I've been an on-court coach a lot, especially under Phil Thomas at the Thunder and Ulverstone who gave me enough rope to go and do that.”

Haywood says one of his most important tasks at the club will be creating a strong and positive environment.

“I'm definitely keen on establishing a really strong culture at the club and I want to get to know all the players personally, so I have a good connection with them but still be professional enough to have that separation from them as coach,” he said.

“A couple of our keys this year will be around respect and honesty and guys that I've been friends with will have to be willing to accept my feedback and sit on the bench if I take them off.”

Haywood has already started working on the Thunder’s roster for 2021, revealing some of the players who had committed for 2020 are keen to return.

“Without mentioning names, there are a lot of local guys I have been in contact with that are really excited to come and play, especially after having most of this year off,” Haywood said.

“Some of those guys have been away for a couple of years and are fresh and ready to go again and some guys are already in the group.”