Fresh-faced Opals assistant coach Shannon Seebohm will take the helm at the WNBL powerhouse Townsville Fire after the club announced a three-year deal on Friday.
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The distinguished junior national coach will replace championship-winning mentor Claudia Brassard, who helped them to the crown two seasons ago.
Seebohm was just 26 when he earned WNBL coach of the year for taking the Sydney Uni Flames to the play-offs in his rookie season.
Before that he was an Australian junior representative and exciting young NBL guard, forced into early retirement after a seizure stopped his heartbeat while training.
Now 30, Seebohm has since coached the Australian Sapphires to a bronze and gold medal at the last two under-17 world championships.
He will assume a full-time role at the club, as opposed to Brassard's previous in-season full-time occupation.
"Shannon is an exciting coaching talent," Fire general manager Sam Pascoe said, describing it as a new chapter for the club.
"His technical and tactical analysis of the game is excellent; I look forward to seeing the Fire play an exciting, up-tempo and positive brand of basketball."
Seebohm will commence his duties immediately.
"The club has a rich history of success and I hope that I can play a key role in continuing that tradition," he said.
"I am looking forward to getting to know all the current players and finalising the playing roster in coming weeks."
Returning Opal Tess Madgen, up-and-comers Darcee Garbin and Zitina Aokuso, Canadian WNBA talent Bridget Carleton and Belgium's first WNBL player Julie Van Loo headline the squad so far.
Australian Associated Press
