Episode 36. Transitioning from coaching juniors into senior roles in both the NBL and NBL1 with Hayden Morris

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

The Big Easy Basketball Podcast embraces and acknowledges local basketball heroes and personalities that observe the community and help develop basketball stars both now and in the future.

SPEAKER_02 0:26

Welcome back to the Big Easy Basketball Podcast. Today we have Hayden Morris, assistant coach of the MBL One side and head of player development and the Knox basketball program. How are you, Hayden? I'm good. Thanks for having me. Pleasure, mate. Now, mate, um, last year you were an assistant coach in the MBL One space and you were also looking after the under 18 ones team, which was obviously quite a successful year. Um, how have you transitioned out of juniors into seniors?

SPEAKER_01 0:54

Yeah, um, look, it's I guess it's something I've wanted to do for a while. Um, juniors is great. I love being around juniors and still in my role at Knox, um, you know, being involved with seeing all the junior players develop and that side of it. But I think more of a time factor for me um in having the responsibility to have to coach my own team um was I guess part of the decision and also just where I want to get to with my basketball journey probably played another part in that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

So with um 2026, you've really focused basically on your your senior coaching, and you're also looking after player development at a junior level, is that correct? Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Yep. So with your seniors there, you're you're an assistant role there, and you've got another role with the Southeast Melbourne Phoenix.

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Yeah, so I'm with uh the Phoenix going into my third year this season, upcoming for the 2026-27 season in the MBL.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

Yeah. Now, you've obviously there's a massive jump between juniors and seniors, but what's the difference between your coaching program at an MBL 1 level to an MBL level?

SPEAKER_01 1:58

Yeah, look, I mean, I guess um time on floor is uh I guess we do a really good job as a club in breaching that gap, and something we're trying to do at Knox is make our senior program as close to um an MBL program as we can or a WMBL program. Um but yeah, definitely time on floor is a big thing, you know, not being able to train every single day as a collective. Um I mean Nani does a good job in making sure the boys have access to training on the floor, um, skill-wise and workouts and all that stuff. Um I think also just like the length of the season, it's a pretty quick uh off-season or pre-season, I guess. And then you're kind of into the flow of it and guys coming in late and depending on where they've been before. Um, whereas MBL, you're kind of set in stone and you've got, you know, your six weeks sort of prior to the season kicking off where everyone's here and you're kind of flying through what you need to uh to have ready for the year ahead.

SPEAKER_02 2:54

Okay. Now there's lots of young coaches out there, and and for yourself, you're albeit that you've been coaching for quite a long time, you're still a very young coach. What's some advice you'd give to people who are looking at getting into, first of all, getting into the coaching space and then following from that, developing themselves into either a a strong junior coach or potentially even uh a senior role somewhere.

SPEAKER_01 3:16

Yeah, my big thing when I started, I guess, was I always had the um the mindset of don't say no. Um so you know, any opportunity, whether it's something as little as rebounding or watching a training session, um, you know, the more you're around, the more people notice and the more things you pick up as well. Like I might go on, you know, uh perhaps sit and watch an MBL team train and I might be able to pick up two or three things that I really like. And I think that's a big part of, you know, and you've got to start somewhere too. So being willing to do, you know, the little things, like if it's rebounding, if it's, you know, just helping out, you know, grabbing drinks, whatever it is, um, but being around and not saying no to any opportunities you're presented with when you can.

SPEAKER_02 3:58

So you're sort of looking at those like the their jobs that you go, do I really want to do that? But at the end of the day, you do it. Yeah. It's like serving an apprenticeship.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

Yeah, for sure. And I think it's also, you know, you've got to do your time, and it's it's also, I think, ways for you to learn. Like, yeah, you might be there to fill up water bottles or to rebound or whatever it is, but you're also there watching how coaches talk to players, you're watching what drills they use, you know, specific movements, and that in itself is kind of makes it worth it because you're learning.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

Okay. So last year you obviously had a very successful year at a junior level with the under 18 program. So you you won the the uh which was the um classic and uh MVC. Yep. Yep, thanks. You got me there. Um how do you find the transition though from obviously a a strong and they were a strong-wheeled team as well. The transition from that though into coaching at a senior level.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Yeah, look, I think um I'm I'm very fortunate. Obviously, as you said, we had a talented group last year, and some of them have been able to make their way into the senior space, and um having them around's been really good. I think one of the major differences is obviously the way you deliver messages and the relationship side of things. Um, you know, in under 18s, you're very much able to rip guys and you know, they'll kind of bounce back off that and and you can kind of go at guys a little harder. I feel like in seniors you've got to have that relationship established and um, you know, be more reasonable with your approach at times um is probably a major thing. But yeah, definitely the relationship side of it's a really big part.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Yeah, but how do you do how do you go about building that relationship with senior players, particularly given your age as well?

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Yeah, look, I think my age actually makes it easier. Um, you know, being able to talk to them about similar things. I guess I'm a similar age to a lot of our players, so that definitely helps. Um, but I also think just showing them that you care about them and it's not just a basketball relationship, it's actually a a a person relationship in in terms of you know um talking to them about things going on outside of training and you know, how's their partner, how's their kid, how's you know this and that. Um so you know, I think showing them you care about them as a person, not just an athlete's a really big part of that.

unknown 6:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:11

And with your journey that you've had so far, have you had mentors that have helped you along the way?

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Yeah, I've been really, really lucky. Um, I've been in some fortunate situations where I've had some great mentors. Um, and you know, guys, when I first started, I had uh I was assistanting under Matt Shanahan in under 12s. Um, you know, he's a great coach and and I learned a lot of him. Um and then, you know, guys like uh Braden Cotter um took me under his wing when he was here and and was a great um role model for me. Um guys like right now, uh Trig at Southeast, who's really taken me under his wing. And, you know, um I'm just very grateful. I feel like I'm missing people, Jason Smith, uh Rob Brownley, you know, those sort of guys that, you know, all from different pathways, different areas, but they've really uh, I guess, yeah, I've learned things from each of those, and they've all been uh great mentors and you know friends and guiders for me.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

Now you're known as a coach that does a lot of preparation prior to each game.

SPEAKER_01 7:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:12

What how what sort of things do you do and why do you do it?

SPEAKER_01 7:17

Yeah, um, look, I feel pre-game it's kind of uh important to understand the other team. I mean, as a coach, you can control what you can control. Um, and you know, so I can't go out there and shoot the basketball or you know, make the winning pass or anything like that, but you know, I can control how comfortable our players feel um about what the other team's running, how comfortable we feel about guiding actions, that sort of stuff. So I think it's really important that um you give the players you know continuity in what they're doing and that they understand um, I guess what the game plan is and trust that you've put the time in and control what you can control as a coach.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

Yep. Yeah. How much do you time do you spend each week on preparation?

SPEAKER_01 8:02

Um for one game? Yeah, for one game. One game, I'd say probably uh two to three hours, maybe, um, depending on the level of game. Like I I think obviously for a bigger time game you want to feel like even more prepared, say a final or a do-or-die game, but a a standard game probably more closer to hour and a half, two hours um for a game that perhaps classic grand final, for example. I probably put in three hours to that. Um, you know, just watching tape and and making sure I was comfortable with uh, I guess making sure that the coverages we were gonna do were right and and checking with other people, I think is a really big part of that too, and getting second, third, fourth opinions.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

Yeah, so you say that about the the coverage and then the second, third, and fourth opinion. So obviously you've got people scouting, you've got your assistant coaches. Who else are you talking to in that space?

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Uh people and mentors I trust, like some of the people I just mentioned earlier. Um, you know, people who I trust, people who I know constantly watch. Um, so you know, um, another great person at Knox, Simon Duckworth, you know, guys like that who aren't necessarily on on my staff or or coaching with me, but you know, people I know um and value their opinion and and I know that they watch the game and you know have been around basketball a while.

SPEAKER_02 9:16

Yeah, so you're talking to those three or four people, yeah, and that's to come up with three or four solutions, or is it to come up with what do you think is the best solution? What's the look on there?

SPEAKER_01 9:25

I think it's kind of uh throw me what you think is right. Um, especially I guess being an assistant coach, it's very different to being a head coach, and that's something I'm still obviously learning too. Um last year it would be, you know, I listen to suggestions um and then kind of make the decision based on that. This year I'm one of the ones giving the suggestion, so you know, those roles flip a little bit. But I I think, you know, if coaches don't want to always hear that they're right every single time. And I think, you know, if you give your opinion and and it's used, that's great. And if you don't, uh if it's sorry, if you give it and it's not usable, that's fine. But I think it's just having different voices and you know, everyone sees things differently. So uh I guess trying to find what the most common answer and solution is.

SPEAKER_02 10:10

Yeah, so a bit of humility there with being an assistant coach, I guess, from time to time.

SPEAKER_01 10:14

Yeah, look, it's different, but um I think it's also like part of the I guess pathway, and you know, um, for me it's been almost a learning curve again. You know, my role's different, and I think that's really good. And and again, like very small percentage of coaches are head coaches when you're talking about trying to do it as a career and full-time. So me um being able to learn and adapt to those skills um and you know, doing some of the stuff like the film and like the scout, um, you know, I I think that's really important for me and my future as well.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

Yeah, so what when you look at your age and you're early 20s.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

Uh yeah, I just turned 25. Okay, so mid-20s.

SPEAKER_02 10:50

Yeah, get knocked. When you're my age, you start to talk about that being early still, though, just to let you know. But uh, but so you're looking at that and you're going, you've you've obviously done what you want to do in the junior space. Yeah. And now you're stepping into that senior space, you're an assistant coach in the the MBL one level, you're what would be a third year development coach in MBL, which obviously you're hoping to step forward and become an assistant coach at some stage there. And you've also been in a sort of supportive role within the the boomers program as well. Is that correct?

SPEAKER_01 11:19

Uh yeah, yeah. Like you know, like I mentioned earlier, that's probably more the um not saying no to opportunities. And you know, I'm again I'm lucky to have some great people supporting me and giving me opportunities, and you know, you don't say you don't say no to those opportunities. People like Junior um from the boomers and Jason and stuff giving me those opportunities, you're not gonna say no to because again, it's an environment where you can learn so much and it's a great environment to be a part of. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:44

Now, for you, Hayden, where do you see yourself in 12 months and then again in five years? What's what's your goals there?

SPEAKER_01 11:50

I mean, um, I guess I I try not to plan too far ahead because basketball is a very funny thing. Like, you know, you can have a job one day and you can be unemployed the next. So it's it's kind of hard thing, I guess, um, to have a plan for. But I mean, goal-wise, I would love to head coach an MBL one team eventually. Um, you know, whether that's in one year, whether that's in five years. Um, uh five years time in five years' time, I'll be 30. I'd love to be a head coach in MBL One. I'd love to be on an MBL bench or uh, you know, overseas. Um, so yeah, I guess again, it's hard to predict, but um definitely on a on a staff professionally is is the goal.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

Well, I think you'll get there, mate, with your attitude and your work ethic.

SPEAKER_01 12:34

I appreciate it, hopefully.

SPEAKER_02 12:36

All right, mate. Well, look, we look forward to uh seeing your basketball journey progress. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 12:43

Thanks, mate. Take care.

SPEAKER_00 12:46

The Big Easy Podcast is committed to promoting local basketball personalities this coming weekend. You may very well be sharing the court with a local basketball hero.