LANARD COPELAND TO COACH AT MAGIC

Hawthorn Magic are pleased to welcome NBL legend Lanard Copeland to the Magic junior program. Lanard will join our under 16 Girls program alongside Head Coach Zac Natoli. Lanard will coach the under 16 Girls 2 during season 2010 - 2011.

Lanard has a wealth of experience having played professional basketball from 1989 to 2008. He had short stints in the American NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers, but experienced his most success in the Australian NBL. From 1992 to 2005, he played for the Melbourne Tigers, winning league championships in 1993 and 1997.  

He also played for the Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers.
 
Lanard is very much looking forward to joining the Magic and said “Basketball has been my life for over 25 years, 20 right here in Australia. Nothing pleases me more than to give back to a sport that has given me so much. It is my pleasure to join the Magic family, i look forward to working with all the young, up and coming superstars in this program, basketball in this country is certainly on the rise, so whatever we (D-Mack and myself) need to do, we will.”

Director of Coaching, Kelly Breazeale said “we are very fortunate to have someone of the calibre of Lanard join us and impart his extensive knowledge of the game to our players. Being involved in the sport at the highest level and having a passion for the game like he does can only benefit our players and push them to new heights.”

Lanard and D-Mack will also be involved in specialist coaching with all age groups across the club.     Hawthorn Magic will field around 30 teams in the VJBL competition in 2011 and draws players from the Hawthorn Basketball Association domestic competition.

For more information contact:

Lucas Kotros - Media & Marketing

Email: Lucaskotros@hotmail.com

Mobile: 0400 867 972