Berkefeld earns back-to-back junior Lakers coach-of-the-year honours

Matt Berkefeld Dsc 4323  TBW Newsgroup

Matt Berkefeld Dsc 4323 TBW Newsgroup
WORTHY HONOUR: Mount Gambier’s Matt Berkfeld has been honoured with the Junior Lakers coach of the year for the second successive year.

MOUNT Gambier Lakers coach Matt Berkefeld has overcome plenty of obstacles in the last year and has come out the other side with back-to-back junior Lakers coach of the year honours.

Berkefeld suffered a concussion during the football season at Penola and struggled from there.

However, speaking to him this week, he was clearly focused on basketball in Mount Gambier and was grateful for the support he received along the way from fellow coaches and his players.

Berkefeld said it was an honour to claim the award, which was chosen by his peers.

“It was a big honour to me because all of the coaches out there are people I have known for along time and I looked up to them as people,” he said.

“In my situation I was not able to commit to everything and needed a lot of assistance.

“They helped me out and to get recognition from them, I was very honoured.”

Berkefeld took his Under 18 side to back-to-back SA Junior Country Championships, while also guiding the senior Lakers men to back-to-back CBL titles.

Despite his ongoing issues with his concussion, he managed to remain focused and achieve the ultimate success for both teams.

Berkefeld said the pressure of the two competitions was not hard to handle, but was more beneficial.

“I guess in reality it was beneficial for me, it was sort of an escape,” he said.

“I had constant headaches and I was not working or able to drive or read and write.

“To be with the kids for a couple of hours was very beneficial.

“I did receive a lot of assistance – Mitch Hunter was my assistant this year, who also played in the CBL side and he was great.

“Robbie Young is another coach who really helped out through the year.

“A lot of the other coaches, like Brian Green and Sonia Knight helped me out.

“I received a lot of support which made me very grateful and also made things go smoothly.”

Berkefeld said for around three months the only time he really left his house was to coach, which he looked forward to each week.

He said the boys he coached made the job a lot easier.

“It was one of the more talented groups I have been around,” he said.

“The majority of the kids were top age players who had not only played for a while, but had been in my teams for several years.

“As well as being talented they have a good understanding of how to play the game.

“They were also very understanding of my situation.

“Because of them and the parents as well, the way everyone was made the season much easier than it could potentially have been.”

Berkefeld said he felt proud to have taken both teams to success in consecutive years, but he also pointed to the success of basketball in Mount Gambier as a major factor.

“I feel basketball in Mount Gambier is in a strong place overall,” Berkefeld said.

“A lot of the teams are currently having success and the women’s basketball is going very well with the Pioneers’ women being added.

“While it has been a successful couple of years for us, I think basketball in Mount Gambier has had a successful couple of years as well.”

Berkefeld said one of the highlights of the season from both sides was the way all players interacted.

“What stood out to me with both teams was how well everyone got along,” he said.

“We want to train hard and be competitive, but at the same time we want it to be a fun experience.

“We want guys to look forward to come to training.

“It made my job easier because the kids are all friends and both teams did a lot off the court together.

“It was good to see players playing unselfishly and not being concerned about minutes, which some other teams struggle with.”

At 27 years of age it was Berkefeld’s sixth year coaching.

He said there was no real reason he began, apart from a love of the sport and the enjoyment of the job.

“I just do it because I love doing it,” Berkefeld said.

“I do not have any long-term goals in mind – I keep coming out because I really enjoy watching the boys develop.

“Throughout the years they have treated me really well and I think it goes back to us wanting to create a fun environment for the boys.

“They make coaching fun for me.

“I enjoy doing it and while that is the case I would love to keep going.”