NBA Global Academy Coach Joins BNZ Breakers for NBL25

Shane Connolly is leaving his role as Strength and Conditioning Coach at the NBA Global Academy at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra to become Head of Performance at the BNZ Breakers for the upcoming NBL25 season.

Connolly's experience managing the workloads of elite players will be crucial, as the BNZ Breakers again have the most demanding schedule in the league, including two NBA games against the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder in October.

The Head of Performance role at the BNZ Breakers is one of the most challenging jobs in the league, as the club undertakes the most air travel of all ten teams

"Shane is skilled at enhancing player performance while monitoring player health and reducing the risk of injuries," says Head Coach Petteri Koponen. 

"He holds a master's degree in kinesiology focusing on coaching and has previously worked at the NBA Global Academy in China.”

Connolly also spent four years as the director of strength and conditioning for the men's and women's basketball programs at St Mary's College, which is in the West Coast Conference of the NCAA.

BNZ Breakers fan favourite Daniel Sokolovsky is elevated to Lead Assistant Coach for the new season.

Sokolovsky's dedication and skill set are undeniable as he prepares for a third year at the club. He also coached the Franklin Bulls in the NZ NBL to the finals in 2023.

Koponen is thrilled that the 30-year-old has extended his contract with the BNZ Breakers.

"How Daniel and I see the game and talk about basketball is very similar," he says.

"The first time we spoke on the phone we had an instant connection, talked tactics for two hours and I knew instantly we could work together.

"Daniel knows the club, knows the league, knows the small details, and is very valuable to us.

"He is a true professional; he knows what he's doing with great ideas, works around the clock, and we are lucky to have him.”

Mario Dugandzic, who has spent two years working alongside Koponen at the Adidas New Generation Tournament, is also joining the BNZ Breakers as an assistant coach.

The 39-year-old Croatian arrives having helped Germany win its first-ever title, beating defending champions Serbia to win the FIBA U18 EuroBasket earlier this year.

"Mario has been coaching at the highest level as assistant coach to the German National Team under Gordon Herbert,"says Koponen.

"He also brings the experience of coaching at Brose Bamberg in the German Bundesliga. He knows the game well and is vital for the team.”

Joining Sokolovsky and Dugandzic is 35-year-old Laimonas Eglinskas, who arrives in Auckland with previous head coaching experience in Lithuania.

"Overall, we have a great coaching staff. We have different guys bringing different strengths, and we have a good group who trust each other," says Koponen.

"We will work together to ensure that the BNZ Breakers play the best brand of basketball this year."