Spotlight on Owen Hughan: A Legend in Australian Basketball Coaching
Warwick Cann
Director, Mentor Coach, Coach Developer & Performance Sport consultant specializing in basketball
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This is a short summary of an 45 minute conversation in the "Australian Basketball Coaching Legends Spotlight Series," which delves into the rich history and invaluable coaching insights of some of the most successful basketball coaches in Australia over the past 50 years.
in this short summary article we bring you the first of five interviews with the legendary Victorian country coach, Owen Hughan, conducted by Warwick Cann aimed at helping aspiring Basketball coaches learn from this before them.
Hughan's contributions to basketball, both regionally and nationally, have left a lasting legacy. Join us as we explore his journey through various stages of his illustrious coaching career, his philosophy, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
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Owen Hughan: The Journey Begins
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Owen Hughan's journey into coaching began somewhat serendipitously. Initially, he found himself coaching New Zealand's National Invitation Tournament as a playing coach, leading his team to victory. This experience piqued Hughan's interest in coaching and provided a significant foundation for his later achievements. Reflecting on his initial experiences, Hughan stated:
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> "We end up winning the thing. So that's probably my first major experience that I received as coaching."
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Owen Hughan’s Early Coaching Days and Philosophy
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Hughan’s coaching path took a decisive turn when he transitioned from playing to coaching at Melbourne East. He took on the challenging role of coaching a team that lacked stability and quickly realized the importance of strong leadership. Hughan remarked:
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> "I started to think I might, I would like to have a go at this coaching..."
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This phase marked the beginning of his structured approach to team management and development.
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Transition to Melbourne East and Beyond
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Owen Hughan's tenure at Melbourne East marked a critical period in his career. He managed to transform the team, despite the odds, which helped solidify his coaching philosophy. He believed in empowering players by giving them the freedom to make decisions on the court:
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> "I think giving the player the freedom to make the choice on what we should do, even though we're in some kind of organized system as we went through."
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Victorian Senior Championships and NBL Insights
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Hughan's career continued to flourish as he moved into higher-profile roles, including managing the Nunawading Stadium and coaching in the Victorian Senior Championships. His ability to adapt and learn from every experience facilitated his successful transition into the National Basketball League (NBL). He shared:
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> "I think the biggest influence, by the way, I believe when you're coached by someone, you pick up things."
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The Impact of the Three-Point Line on Basketball
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One of the most significant changes Hughan observed in basketball was the introduction and evolution of the three-point line. He noted its profound effect on the game, particularly in how it stretched defenses and altered strategies:
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> "The biggest influence I believe has come to me across would have been the three-point line. And now they're shooting the ball four or five feet behind that."
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Coaching Philosophy: Individual Improvement Over Systems
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Hughan's coaching philosophy centred around improving individual players to enhance overall team performance. Unlike many contemporaries who preferred system-based training, Hughan focused on personal skill development and footwork:
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> "My main coaching philosophy is would have been that I'd make the individual better, which will make the team better."
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Adapting Coaching Styles and Training Intensity
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Over the years, Hughan evolved his coaching style, particularly in terms of training intensity. He found that shorter but more intense training sessions yielded better results:
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> "When I cut the training time, I put the attention, and I was, they wanted to go on and I go, no, it's finished."
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The Unique Challenges of Coaching in Country Victoria
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Coaching in country Victoria came with unique challenges, notably the geographical distances and limited access to resources. Despite these hurdles, Hughan’s commitment to improving the fundamentals of players led to remarkable successes:
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> "I absolutely admire them. I just can't believe the results that they do get."
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Advice for Aspiring Coaches
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To aspiring coaches, Hughan offers timeless advice. He emphasizes authenticity, hard work, and simplicity. His key principles include being true to oneself, trusting one’s instincts, and avoiding overcomplication:
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> "Never die wondering... be yourself... make it simple."
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Closing and Looking Ahead
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In this rich, insightful interview, Owen Hughan shared not only his personal experiences but also the profound principles that guided his successful career. The next interviews in this series will dive deeper into the technical, tactical, and strategic nuances that define great coaching.
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A heartfelt thank you to Owen Hughan for sharing his wisdom. Stay tuned for the next installment where we further explore the breadth and depth of his coaching philosophy and contributions to Australian basketball.
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You can catch Owen’s five conversations along with Lindsay Gaze, Ken Cole & Brian kerle as the first four memebres of our Legend starting 5 with this link:
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