Coaches
â– Head Coach
Adam Forde
Originally from Western Australia, Forde has extensive experience in the NBL since joining the Wildcats in 2011 as an assistant. He was part of four championships with Perth – 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019 before taking his talents to Sydney. In 2020, Forde helped the Kings to the minor premiership and their first Grand Final appearance since 2008, before being elevated to the head coach position in 2021. He joined the Taipans in 2021, reaching the semi-finals in his second season and winning the 2023 NBL Coach of the Year Award. "Fordey" is well-regarded throughout Australian basketball for his calculated coaching, meticulous approach to scouting, strong player relationships, and unrivalled work ethic.
â– Assistant Coaches
Kerry Williams
Kerry Williams has been involved with the club since 2003, first as a player and later joining the front office as the Indigenous Programs Manager. He was appointed to the helm of the Cairns Marlins for their inaugural NBL1 North season, a role that he has held since 2020, and joined the Taipans coaching ranks in 2021 as an Assistant Coach. He currently serves as Basketball Queensland’s State Performance Officer for Cairns, having also previously served as BQ’s Women’s U20’s Head Coach and Head Coach of the Cairns Dolphins in the QBL.
Will Lopez
Will Lopez joined the club ahead of the 2021-22 season, first as the Development Coach, and now as an Assistant Coach. During this time, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Cairns Marlins, before leading the Cairns Dolphins as their Head Coach for the 2024 NBL1 North season. The former Cairns Basketball Development Manager has also served as the NBL1 Head Coach and Director of Coaching with the Bankstown Bruins, and as the High Performance Coach for Basketball New South Wales, during which he’s held a strong focus on the development and growth of his players.
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