Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Club are delighted to announce our coaching staff as well as some additional teams for the 2024/2025 Season.
As the club continues to grow so does the clubs coaching staff, with some faces from the past returning to the club, as well as some ‘development squads’ being added at the top end of the age groups.
In addition to running teams in every ‘Premier Division’ of the junior national league, EIBC are adding an U18 Men’s Conference Team, to give a competitive opportunity to those boys that are not yet established at either U18 Premier or Academy EABL level. Similarly, the club is also hoping to add a WNBL Division Two team to operate underneath our high-flying Division One team. Details for trials for both of these teams will be released shortly.
In addition to the above two new teams, the club will continue to operate an U12 development programme, that will compete in regional competitions as well as hosting some informal events here in Ipswich.
At the junior age groups, there are some noticeable changes. Femi Ariyo will move up from U14 boys to the U16 hot seat, while Coach Dave Girling returns to the club and brings his vast experience to the U14 boys age group. Basketball England ‘East Region Children’s Coach of the Year’ Danny Manning will continue to oversee the U12 mixed programme, as well as heading up the U18 Men’s Premier team. The addition of the U18 Conference Men’s team means the appointment of a new Head Coach with the club. Ollie Miall takes up the role, bringing a wealth of experience having worked at Senior National League level for the past five seasons with both Ipswich and Worcester Wolves.
On the girls side, club Head Coach Nick Drane takes on the U14 team, while Kev Manning remains in post for the U16 girls and Harriet Welham will stay on board with the U18’s.
At Senior Level, Coach Drane stays in charge of the WNBL Division One Women, while John Yorke has moved up to Senior Basketball, taking charge of the proposed WNBL Division Two development squad.
Perhaps the biggest news with regard to the coaching staff re-shuffle is that Adam Robinson will return to the bench of the NBL Division Two Senior Men. Adam last coached the men back in 2021/2022, and has previously led the team for three seasons between 2019 and 2022, challenging for promotion in 2020.
2024/2025 Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Coaching Staff
WNBL D1 Senior Women: Nick Drane
NBL D2 Senior Men: Adam Robinson
WNBL D2 Senior Women: John Yorke
U18 Women Premier: Harriet Welham
U18 Men Premier: Danny Manning
U18 Men Conference: Ollie Miall
U16 Girls: Kevin Manning
U16 Boys: Femi Ariyo
U14 Girls: Nick Drane
U14 Boys: Dave Girling
U12 Mixed: Danny Manning
The club will shortly be releasing details of trials, which will be held over a two week period at Copleston in late May