Warrnambool's CBL coaches appointed for 2021/22 season

Katie O'Keefe, who led the 2019/20 season, will again take charge of the Mermaids.

While James Mitchell and Jack Huxtable will co-coach the Seahawks. Huxtable was Mitchell's assistant coach last summer.

The Mermaids didn't get to play last season while the men's team only played four games.

Indoor sport is currently off limits under the state government's latest coronavirus restrictions.

O'Keefe admits it's a waiting game but is optimistic about what summer will bring.

She said even if the Mermaids didn't get the opportunity to play again they would be putting in a great pre-season for the Big V next year.

The positive is she has so many women keen to play that she would need to hold try outs for CBL if it goes ahead.

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There are plenty of promising youngsters coming through the ranks.

"We're excited, we've got a very young group," she said.

"(Big V coach) Lee Primmer has had a great group training with the Mermaids through the middle of the year."

O'Keefe said she would rather develop the young players than play herself this season.

But will suit up if need be as junior squad commitments may clash with CBL.

Mitchell was keen to go around again after last summer's limited season.

"We had a really good group of guys, a really fun team, I was really excited about the development we had and with COVID we ended up playing four games," he said.

Many Seahawks players will be itching to get on court after the Big V season was cut short due to COVID restrictions.

"They're all asking me when pre-season starts," he said.

Mitchell was keen to have Huxtable as co-mentor this season.

"I'm a big believer in having a different voice, I've coached these guys for two years and there is such a thing as over-staying your welcome as much as I enjoy it," he said.

"I don't pretend I know everything about coaching, I'm still quite new to it.

"Jack has a lot of experience outside of Warrnambool basketball, he's spent a lot of time in the Vic Country program and in state programs particularly with younger age groups."

Huxtable, who hails from Broadford, is excited to get into another season and develop the next generation coming through.

He won four CBL championships with Seymour Blasters.

The 27-year-old has team managed the under 18s Vic Country teams at the country cup for the past 11 years.

He moved to Warrnambool a year-and-a-half ago with his partner, Amy, and played CBL last season.

But this summer he'll coach from the sidelines while Mitchell takes the court.

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