The Cockburn Basketball Association has appointed former SKILLED Goldfields Giants Coach Steve Charlton as the Head Coach of the Telstra Shop Success Cockburn Cougars for the 2010 SBL Season.

In a statement the club said "Steve comes with a wealth of coaching experience and success. Cockburn are looking forward to Steve taking the Head Coaching role for the 2010 SBL Season."

Charlton has spent the past three years as the Head Coach of the SKILLED Goldfields Giants. He is a two time Championship winning coach (2007 & 2008) and was crowned the 2006 SBL Coach of the Year. 

As a player Charlton played 15 seasons in the SBL with the Willetton Tigers, Stirling Senators and Mandurah Magic. In 306 SBL games Charlton averaged 9.0 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists per game. 

Charlton, who stepped down in early September as Giants coach, has been in demand throughout the league and was pleased to be heading to the Cougars.

"I am very happy to have been appointed as the Head Coach of the Cockburn Cougars for the 2010 season." said Charlton

"They are a very proud club who have an excellent history within the SBL and all basketball levels in WA, and I aim to help maintain that through next year and hopefully beyond."

Charlton believes the Cougars have a strong group already and that the team has the tools to be competitive in 2010. 

"The core group of players are as good as any in the league and I hope that we can maintain all of the guys and with maybe a couple of additions really give the league a shake in 2010."

Charlton, who is still currently based in Kalgoorlie, will be relocating back to Perth to take on the job at the Cougar Den. 

"All I have to do now, is get myself back to Perth and then we can commence work. I am really looking forward to the challenge and I hope to repay the faith that board has shown in my appointment."

Photo by Travis Anderson - Andmedia/Sports Vision ©2009.