HE'S an NBL championship winner with more than 300 games on his coaching resume - and was recently inducted into the Basketball NSW Hall of Fame - but that wasn't enough for Rob Beveridge to earn a spot on the Illawarra Basketball Association Board on Wednesday night.
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In a stunning snub, Beveridge was one of eight nominees for six vacant positions on the IBA's nine-member board at Wednesday's AGM, but didn't secure a seat despite his extensive resume.
It comes after the Association's first attempt at its AGM on November 14 was adjourned amid concerns over the legality of two motions to remove existing directors.
The heated meeting was abandoned and re-convened on Wednesday, with Basketball NSW, and former FIBA president Bob Elphinston, stepping in to oversee proceedings.
The motions to remove existing directors were withdrawn ahead of a board election, with Beveridge surprisingly missing out on one the six vacancies.
Development roles long-preceding his NBL career include the founding head coach role at NSWIS basketball and coaching the Junior Boomers featuring the likes of Andrew Bogut and Brad Newley to world-championship gold in 2003.
Still Wollongong-based, he's currently working with five other Australian associations since parting ways with the Hawks at the end of last season.
He also continues to work as a coaching consultant throughout Asia and coached Scotland to a memorable fourth-placed finish at last year's Commonwealth Games.
Given his wealth of elite-level experience, the snub has prompted questions about the IBA's board election process, particularly the role of proxy votes in elections.
When contacted, Beveridge said he was disappointed his desire to help strengthen the Illawarra's development pathways via a board position will go unfulfilled.
"I'm obviously extremely disappointed that I wasn't voted on," Beveridge said.
"I know I've got a great skill set that would've been able to help the association move forward, particularly in the coaching and playing development area.
"My whole intent in wanting to be there was to be a part of that pathway because we've got some great kids here in the community and some great parents who are really supportive as well.
"I wanted to ensure there was a pathway for our 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s through to national league level because I've been doing it for such a long time. It's disappointing I can't be part of that pathway.
"It wasn't to be unfortunately, they made a choice to go in a different direction so good luck to them.
"I'm very, very pleased there are some good board members there that can hopefully take the association forward.
"I work with five different associations around Australia so I'll continue doing that but, unfortunately, I won't be part of Illawarra Basketball short-term."