Roy Rogers named first head coach of Liverpool Basketball

Rogers to lead Liverpool’s inaugural season

Liverpool Basketball owner Jason Dolan has announced the appointment of Roy Rogers as the club’s first-ever head coach, ahead of its inaugural season in Super League Basketball (SLB).

Rogers brings nearly two decades of NBA coaching experience to Liverpool, making his appointment one of the most significant coaching hires in the history of British basketball.

“It was paramount that we enter our inaugural season and set the tone by bringing in a coach of Roy’s calibre,” said Dolan. “We’re talking about a leader who brings nearly two decades of NBA experience to our organisation. We’re not here just to participate; we’re building a club that will represent Liverpool to the highest standards, and Roy is the perfect coach to lead the way.”

Nearly two decades of NBA experience

Rogers joins Liverpool after most recently working on the coaching staff at the University of Memphis.

Before Memphis, he spent four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2021 to 2025, including a role as the team’s defensive coordinator.

His NBA coaching résumé also includes the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. Rogers began his coaching career in the NBA Development League in 2004.

During his career, he worked alongside respected coaches including Doc Rivers, Mike D’Antoni, Tyronn Lue, Lawrence Frank and Randy Wittman.

Former first-round pick

Before becoming a coach, Rogers was selected in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, a class that included Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Ray Allen.

He played four seasons in the NBA with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets, before continuing his playing career internationally, including a stint with European powerhouse CSKA Moscow.

“From my first conversation with Jason, it was clear this club is being built the right way, from the ground up,” Rogers said. “The chance to be the first head coach in Liverpool Basketball history — to set the standard for everything that follows — is the kind of opportunity a coach gets once in a career.”

Cantwell joins coaching staff

Paul Cantwell will join Rogers as an assistant coach. Cantwell previously served as head coach of the Yorkshire Dragons in British Championship Basketball (BCB).

Rogers will make his home debut at the M&S Bank Arena on October 4 against Manchester.