Adelaide 36ers announce Conner Henry as their new head coach

The Adelaide 36ers are excited to announce the appointment of Conner Henry as its new Head Coach for the next three years.

Conner Henry’s appointment was the culmination of a comprehensive local and international search by the club.

He joins the 36ers after previous positions including Assistant Coach of Orlando Magic and Head coach of the NBA D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants where he won a Championship and was awarded Coach of the Year.

Conner Henry had a standout career as a player, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before an NBA career which saw him drafted to the Houston Rockets before securing contracts with the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. His time at the Boston Celtics allowed him the chance to learn from some of the greats including Kevin McHale, Larry Bird and Dennis Johnson.

Adelaide 36ers Chairman and Owner, Grant Kelley said the appointment of Conner as the Club’s Head Coach was due to his outstanding career and growth as an accomplished basketball figure which has seen him successfully play in the NBA and then transition into coaching NBL, NBA and a Championship in the NBA D-League.

“Conner’s passion, dedication, positivity and drive to succeed has made him the perfect fit for where we are wanting to drive the club,” Kelley said.

Conner Henry said he is looking forward to being back in Australia after previously coaching at the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings, “I am thrilled to be at the Adelaide 36ers and the opportunity to be at a club with a proud history of accomplishment, fantastic players and coaches and the passionate fans which drew me to the club,” Henry continued.

“There is a talented group of core players to build on and I am looking forward to creating a positive work environment. My philosophy is around positivity and I am excited to come to Adelaide and get started,” Henry said.

Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Basketball Jeff Van Groningen who along with Grant Kelley was instrumental in the recruitment said, “The club is in a compelling position with a new Head Coach and a core team that we will be building on in coming months – we can’t wait to get started and show our members and fans a great 2020-21 season.”

Conner Henry is taking on a fresh new Adelaide 36ers team for the 2020-21 season that has recruited young Aussie gun point guard Josh Giddey as a Next Stars player, while retaining the clubs reigning MVP Daniel Johnson, 2019-20 Co-Captain Brendan Teys, Jack McVeigh, Daniel Dillon, Obiri Kyei and local South Aussie Alex Mudronja, who has been elevated from the 36ers development squad.