Geelong's Big V team guided by Copeland

Lanard Copeland
Geelong Advertiser

HE has been taught by some of the greats of Australian basketball and now Lanard Copeland is ready to impart that knowledge on to the next generation of Geelong players.

The NBL legend will coach Geelong's division one men's side in the Big V competition this season and  last night he arrived from Adelaide to meet his prospective new players.

Copeland spoke to the group and also had a look at them in action in the Basketball Geelong domestic competition.

Copeland will take charge of the side when his and the Adelaide 36ers' NBL season is finished.

Adelaide is currently ninth on the table with matches against third-placed Brisbane (home) and fifth-placed Gold Coast (away) this weekend.

Copeland said they would need to win both games and then at least one of their final two rounds to sneak into this year's play-offs.

The 42-year-old, who is originally from Atlanta, will bow out after playing more than 500 NBL games and scoring almost 11,000 points with the Melbourne Tigers, Brisbane and Adelaide in 17 seasons.

``I've had a fantastic ride, it's been a great career and I'm looking forward to that next challenge and it starts here,'' Copeland said at the Arena last night.

``I jumped at that opportunity to coach because I want to stay in the game and Geelong have always had a tradition of winning from the NBL all the way down and I'd like to continue that tradition.

``I've been in this country for a long time and I think I've had probably three of the best coaches that a person could have in Lindsay Gaze, Joey Wright and now Phil Smyth.

``I certainly have learnt from those guys and I want to get the best out of the players and they can get the best out of me. My job is helping these players get to the next level, whatever it takes.''

Copeland comes to Geelong having won two NBL championships _ including the grand final MVP award in 1997 _ with the Tigers and is looking to bring that successful feeling to the team.

Geelong's Big V season will begin on March 29.




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