British Wheelchair Basketball names new coaches

Nigel Smith and Joe Jayarante were named the new coaches of Great Britain’s women’s wheelchair basketball teams heading into this year’s European Championships. 04 Apr 2013

A picture of women in wheelchair posing for a group picture during a wheelchair basketball match

Great Britain’s women’s wheelchair basketball team at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

ⒸLieven Coudenys

By IPC

"We are both enthused at the prospect of working with the current crop of young and talented players in the Standard Life GB Women's Squad."

British Wheelchair Basketball announced on Wednesday (3 April) that Nigel Smith and Joe Jayaratne will coach Great Britain’s women’s wheelchair basketball team at this year’s European Championships, which will take place this summer in Frankfurt, Germany.

With a combined total of over 67 years in the sport, both Jayaratne and Smiths’ wheelchair basketball careers have seen them successfully make the transition from winning medals on some of the world’s biggest stages as players, to winning them as coaches.

“Joe and I have played and coached together for a combined total of 60 years,” Smith told British Wheelchair Basketball.

“Although we only have a short time with the Standard Life GB Women's Squad, we will be utilising all of that experience to help the ladies try to achieve the team goals that they set themselves. We are both extremely excited with the challenge and cannot wait to get started.”

Jayaratne added: "We are both enthused at the prospect of working with the current crop of young and talented players in the Standard Life GB Women's Squad. We hope that we are able to impart some positive ideas and knowledge, and to play some small part in their on-going development.”