Presenters

The session presenters are currently being finalised. The final presenters along with their biographies
and topics will be available on the Coach the Coach 2011 website in mid-August.

Ganon Baker

Owner, Operator, NBA Skill Development Coach
Ganon Baker Basketball, Wilmington, North Carolina

Ganon grew up in Hampton, Virginia. He won a State Championship at Hampton High School, was an All-State Selection, and was offered over 25 Division I College Scholarships.

After college, Ganon coached Division I basketball for 4 years as an Assistant. He then went on the play overseas in Iceland and tryout for the Denver Nuggets. He made it to the Summer Roster before being cut due to an injury.

After sustaining an injury playing professionally, he started his own business known today as Ganon Baker Basketball Services. He travels the world reaching kids through teaching basketball. He is a Nike Skill Development Trainer and Workout Director. He has worked with NBA superstars including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He trains the top 150 Girls in the country for Nike Basketball and directs Skill Academies all over the world, including The Michael Jordan Brand Classics in Europe.

Ganon also has 45 Best Selling Instructional DVDs. He trains over 3000 players per year and has worked with the best in business.

Ganon speaks to thousands of players per year; he also does motivational speaking in schools and churches worldwide. He focuses on 5 concepts; Intensity, Consistency, Persistence, Faith, and Love.

Prof. Frank Marino

  • Formerly, Foundation Head of the School of Human Movement Studies (2003-2011) at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst
  • Doctor of Philosophy from Charles Sturt University in 1998
  • Master of Education (Merit) from University Sydney in 1992
  • Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Western Australia in 1987
  • Specialist Certificate In Clinical Research(Neuroscience) University of Melbourne 2008
  • Professional member of
    the Exercise and Sports Science Australia, the Physiological Societies of America and UK, Royal Society of NSW
  • Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Frank’s main area of focus in research is related to understanding the mechanisms of fatigue during prolonged exercise. In particular, the relationship between the control of body temperature and central (Central Nervous System) fatigue.

Over the past 10 years he has received over $200K in funding to pursue his research. In 2000, Frank was awarded the ‘Faculty of Education Research Excellence Award’ and in 2003 and again in 2011 the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence for his efforts in the sports science field. In his previous role as Head of School, Frank was involved with many other research projects in addition to his own and consequently is one of the leading minds in Australia in the area of sports science and its future. Frank has recently been appointed as Associate Dean(Research) for the Faculty of Education where he oversees the research direction of the Faculty.

Melissa Baker

Melissa (MJ) begins her first year as the head women’s basketball coach at Bluefield College in the 2011-2012 season.

She holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of West Florida and was named to the NCAA Division II All South Region’s Second Team and the All Gulf South Conference’s First Team. She holds the University’s season blocked shots and rebounding record and was named the University’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2005-2006. MJ received the Scholar Female Athlete of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

She recently served as head coach of the Women’s basketball team at Spartanburg Methodist College where she was named Region X Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year and her team won their region title. Before that she coached at John Curtis Christian High School, in New Orleans, leading them to consecutive state championships (for the first time in school history).

MJ served as a skills development instructor this past summer at the Nike regional skills academies and Nike nationals skills academy, training the top girls in the nation.

Margaret Foster

Margaret is one of New Zealand’s premier netball coaches. In 2010 Margaret was awarded the Insignia of the member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport, in particular netball. Margaret has represented NZ in netball, touch rugby and athletics. She was voted the Maori sportsperson of the year in 1997. Margaret is presently on the coaching staff of the Bay of Plenty Magic, who plays in the ANZ Cup. Marg played for the Silver Ferns between 1994 and 2001 and is currently head coach of the Cook Islands Development Squad. Marg was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. She later wrote a book ‘Silver Linings’ about both her career and her three-year battle with cancer.

Noeline Taurua

Noeline Taurua is a former New Zealand international netball representative, who played in the Silver Ferns team that won a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Noeline has been one of the top coaches in New Zealand for the past 10 years. Her team the Magic have won the National Bank Cup competition in New Zealand. Noeline was also the assistant coach of the victorious NZU21 team.

She currently coaches the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic netball team, which have consistently made it to the top 4 since inception of the Trans Tasman competition. Her placings of 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, in the competition have made her NZ’s premier coach!

Noeline is one of those special coaches, who players play for. She is charismatic, and tells it how it is. She’s extremely dedicated, and loves bringing out the best in people. Noel is a mum of 5 beautiful children and partner to Eddie.

Dr. Eric Drinkwater

Eric came to Australia from Canada ten years ago. He spent four years at the AIS investigating the development of strength and fitness of basketball players and gained a doctorate level degree in Exercise Physiology. He has been in the School of Human Studies at Charles Sturt University for 6 years teaching in the area of coaching strength, power and fitness.

Eric has been involved with the Western Region Academy of Sport since his arrival in Bathurst coordinating the Testing and Sports Science Team, coaching a variety of different WRAS athletes in strength and power and is also currently the Chair of the WRAS Board of Directors. Eric is an accredited coach for the Australian Weightlifting Federation and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Dr Stephen Bird

Dr. Bird is a well-known author, speaker and researcher with expertise in elite sports performance, strength training, and nutritional supplementation. He has been an elite consultant and advisor to professional sports teams and international sporting organisations since 2000.

Through the school of human movement studies, Charles Sturt University, awards bestowed upon Dr. Bird include NSW sports safety award (2009/2007), AAESS Medal (220^0, NSCA graduate research Award (2005) and ISC scholar award (2004). Dr. Bird is coordinator of the Western Region Academy of Sport strength and conditioning internship program, associate editor of the journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, and is a research consultant with MUSASHI performance nutrition.

Simon Woinarski

Simon holds a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education), a Masters of Exercise and Sports Science and is a Level 2 Coach (Australian Football).

Simon has had 9 years experience as a Secondary School Physical Education Teacher and he has also worked in Sport Development for 8 years with Tennis NSW and the AFL (NSW/ACT). Simon managed the Talented Player Pathway Programs in NSW for the AFL (NSW/ACT) for 3 years and has also worked for a year with NSWIS in Sports Program Management.

Simon currently works for Sport and Recreation NSW as the Project Coordinator for Coaching and Officiating. He oversees the delivery of general principles of coaching and general principles of officiating courses and other programs to support all sports in NSW in the delivery of their Coaching and Officiating Accreditation programs.

Deb Cook

Deb has a Bachelor of Sports Science, Sports coaching Major. Deb works for the Australian Sports Commission in the Active After Schools Program and has been coaching basketball for over 20 years. She was an assistant coach to Phil Brown at the AIS for 10 years and has travelled extensively overseas with sports teams.

Deb was the head coach of the Australian Universities women’s team in 2005, winning Australia’s first basketball University medal, a bronze. Deb has also worked for NSW Basketball as a regional head coach for the National Intensive Training Program and Head coach of various NSW State teams. ACT basketball also benefited from Deb’s coaching expertise winning their first medal at a National Championship for U16 women.

Peter Micalos

DipT, BPE,GDipExerSportSc, M.Ed.

Peter is a lecturer in the School of Human Movement Studies at Charles Sturt University. Peter has been involved in numerous research projects since he joined the school over 12 years ago.

Ron Clarke

Ron Clarke is a former Physical Education teacher who has worked with Sport and Recreation for 15 years. He is currently assigned to the Industry Programs Unit of Sport and Recreation and his role is to provide educational workshops on Anti Doping in Sport and other ethical issues such as Child Protection. Ron is passionate about promoting, coordinating and monitoring the fight against doping in sport in all its forms. His informative presentations cover the definition of doping, inadvertent doping, the history of drug use, the therapeutic use of banned substances, banned substances and methods, why are substances banned, herbal products, drug testing procedures, athletes rights and responsibilities during drug tests, event testing and out of competition testing.

Dr Deb Clarke

Senior Lecturer Health &Physical Education Curriculum, School of Human Movement Studies, Faculty of Education, Charles Sturt University

Course Coordinator Graduate Certificate University Learning & Teaching (GCULT), Bachelor of Education (Health & Physical Education) (Honours), Bachelor of Human Movement/Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)

Andre Cabral

Andre plays hockey for the St George/Randwick hockey club in Sydney and has Hockey Australia coaching accreditation and offers an extensive range, knowledge & experience to hockey coaching.

Andre according to Andre – I pride myself in what I call, New School Hockey.  Not only keeping up with the modern game, I also like developing ways to take the game to new directions. How I am able to do this is, as a hockey player in my 40’s, I am not only still playing, I am playing at the highest level.  i.e. for Australia, in international competition.
I run the Hook in2 hockey program for the St George Randwick hockey club, where I have uncomplicated all the drills & skills for beginners so they can play & have more fun playing hockey in the shortest possible time.
I enjoy working with & developing the skills of Elite players.
I believe in planting new ideas & new skills into the minds of our next generation players, so they can take the idea away, develop it & take it to new heights.

Brett Coxsedge

Brett has a Graduate Diploma in Education and has been a teacher in the classroom and on the court the past 20 years. He currently is a level 2 accredited basketball coach as well as FIBA accredited coach.

Brett has an extensive basketball coaching resume, highlighted by being the head coach of the Australian Universities men’s team in 2003, 2005, 2009. Brett has also coached professionally, having been an assistant coach with the West Sydney Razorbacks and Sydney Spirit in the NBL, as well as having coached overseas at Wichita State University in the USA. He was also the head coach of the NSW Intensive Training Centre Program for 8 years, which included coaching numerous State teams.

Brett currently works for WRAS as the Sports Development Manager. Part of his duties include working with athletes in the High Performance Program.

Penny Haslop

Penny is a web developer/solutions consultant. Penny has developed websites and communication strategies for regional education and sporting groups and events and has a keen interest in social media. Penny enjoys sharing her insights into the benefits and pitfalls of sports coaches using social media.

Nathan Pearce

Nathan is one of Australia’s ‘up and coming’ Rugby referees. He was selected to attend the 2010 Junior World Cup in Argentina, has been the man in the middle at a number of internationals and is a regular official at Rugby Super 15 matches.

WRAS Strength and Conditioning Interns

  • Kelsea Burden
  • Alex Kertesz
  • Craig McNulty
  • Sarah Trifogli