Steve Bucknall Returns as England U18 Head Coach

Steve Bucknall has returned to the helm of the England Under-18 Men’s squad, after a two year hiatus.

Karl Brown, who has been Head Coach for the past two years, will once again be Bucknall’s lead assistant, rekindling the duo that led the squad to their best ever finish at the 2013 Division A European Championship.

“It’s a pleasure to have another opportunity to be Head Coach and I look forward to improving on my coaching with the tools I have learned from the FECC,” Bucknall said.

“I am also pleased with the supporting staff appointments which I believe will enhance the programme.”

The task will be to get the team back to Division A, following relegation in 2014.

The U18s’ preliminary squad announced in September isn’t short of talent, with Wake Forest commit Samuel Japhet-Mathias, Angelico Biella’s Carl Wheatle included, along with top players from last summer’s U16 squad such as Nelson Boachie-Yiadom.

Emily Clark remains Team Manager, Ellen Scott will be the squad’s Physiotherapist, while Andrew Langford will be providing all strength and conditioning support. Manchester Magic’s Aurimas Verbukas has been appointed as Apprentice Coach.

Elsewhere, Alan Keane returns for his third year in the role of England Under-16 men’s Head Coach, along with assistant Guy Coles from Bristol Flyers, who returns after a year hiatus.

Pete Daines will take on the Team Manager role, Mark Dyson remains as Physiotherapist, Peter Berenyi takes on the Performance Analyst position, while Patric Waplington is the Strength & Conditioning coach. Kent Crusaders’ Troy Culley takes the Apprentice Coach role.

“I believe we have a group of Head Coaches who with their high energy will embrace the style of play we associate with our system,” Vladan Dragosavac, Basketball England’s Technical and Performance Manager said.

“All of them have a proven ability to develop each player as an individual, whilst building great team spirit and a winning mentality. There are an abundance of talented players in the National Team programmes and I am looking forward to starting work with them.”

England Under-18 men will open training camp on the weekend of 21 November in Sheffield, while the Under-16 men open on December 20 in Oaklands.

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