Following his most recent stint of three seasons at the helm of the Lady Wolves, two of which yielded play-offs appearances including the 2016 Grand Final, Head Coach Craig Friday has informed the Club that he will not seek to extend his current Head Coach contract with the Chambers Franklyn Joondalup City Wolves in to 2019.

A popular and enigmatic career coach, Friday is widely recognised as one of WA’s best Basketball minds, and is the current Head Coach of the Australian Rollers Wheelchair Basketball Team, and this commitment, which includes extensive travel requirements, has been a considerable piece of the overall decision-making process.

He will now be able to continue to provide clear focus upon his extremely important national coaching responsibilities, including a period that features the build-up and participation within the 2020 Paralympic Games.

Craig Friday’s contribution and achievements whilst with the Joondalup Wolves have been significant; including coaching the Men’s SBL team to a 2013 Runners-Up position along with being named the 2016 WSBL Coach of the Year, following a 19-3 regular season and Grand Final appearance. 

Wolves Chief Executive Officer Cameron Britt praised Friday for his contribution to the club, especially in guiding the Women’s program in recent years, which has enjoyed some excellent results and yielded some impressive team and individual achievements. 

“Craig is an outstanding coach and individual. He has worked tirelessly with our Women’s program now for three seasons, bringing a developmental mindset and expertise to the club’s increasingly youthful roster” Britt said.

“Craig’s versatility and commitment to the Wolfpack also saw him involved with our Men’s program for several seasons prior to 2016-18, including at times as a Head Coach and an Assistant Coach, performing the latter role in the club’s 2015 Men’s Championship, a special Basketball memory that endures for all involved.”

“On behalf of the entire club, I thank Craig and wish him the greatest success for his continuing work in the Aussie green and gold” Britt concluded.

The Wolfpack are currently performing a wide-reaching WSBL program review, which includes extensive planning ahead of the 2019 season.

Identification of potential candidates for the, now vacant, Head Coach role has commenced and several marquee recruits are expected to be added ino the line up over the coming months to propel the x5 Championship winning Wolfpack Women’s program right back up the WSBL standings in 2019 and beyond.