Trevor Jackson
THE Mount Gambier Pioneers last week announced the signing of Richard Hill as head coach of the men’s program for another season of NBL1 South.
It comes on the back of NBL1 South women’s coach of the year Matt Sutton committed for the upcoming season.
Hill joined the Pioneers in 2012 and has led Mount Gambier’s men’s program to five
conference and three national championships, to be the most successful coach in the club’s history.
He led the side to 18 wins and seven losses in the 2022 season, falling just short of a conference title, runners-up to the Hobart Chargers.
Hill said committing to the Pioneers for 2023 was easy as the team has unfinished business following the loss in the 2022 NBL1 South grand final.
“Being involved with a club where the board, our sponsors, fans and the community are tremendously supportive makes being part of the Pioneers a special experience,” he said.
“We had a good year last year and while we fell at the last hurdle, it was a tough competition.
“19 teams, every game was hard and it won’t be any different next season.”
Some of the Pioneers’ best players from last season are currently involved with other clubs in different competitions, which means the timeline leading to the start of the 2023 season could be tight if they are to return.
It puts plenty of pressure on the coaching and management staff to ensure a strong roster is put together in time.
“We have been very busy trying to put it together ,” Hill said.
“We have some work to get done.”
One issue the side will face is ensuring a competitive roster hits the floor.
After such a successful run in the old SEABL competition and now in NBL1, it is almost expected the side will be at the pointy end come playoffs.
That mindset has been around since Hill first signed on as coach and has continued through a stellar run rarely seen in any sport.
“Of the last eight completed seasons we have made the final in seven of them,” Hill said.
“That has been pretty sustained success, but we have only won three out of seven.
“But making playoffs in seven out of eight completed seasons is pretty good.”
The success continued through some major disruptions, with the side not allowed back into the revamped SEABL competition, forcing them to Adelaide’s Premier League at late notice.
After throwing a team together they finished runners-up.
From there Covid struck and the first season the Pioneers were to play in the NBL1 competition, it was cancelled.
The following year was called off short of the completion, with the Pioneers in a strong position on the ladder.
“We have had ups and downs but one thing that has been consistent is we have been winning through all of it,” Hill said.
“It has been enjoyable and those five years running where we made the national final were great.”
One other constant has been the support Hill and his teams have enjoyed over the years.
It is rare to see the Icehouse bare, with many games sold out before the night.
The Pioneers created a dynasty few other teams could match and the supporters flocked to see their team take it up to the best the league had offer.
“The support for us has been tremendous,” Hill said.
“The players who come here just love it.
“There isn’t anywhere else quite like it, so they want to stay and play.
“It is their basketball home.”
It is no surprise the supporters and players enjoy the venue, with an unprecedented record at the Icehouse, particularly in finals.
“Our winning record is in the high 70 per cent,” Hill said.
“This year our home record wasn’t very good but we only lost one game on the road.
“But when we beat Sandringham to get into the final, that was our 13th consecutive Icehouse win in playoffs.
“We have never lost a game – 13-0 is pretty amazing.”
Hill said while his side enjoys playing in front of the home crowd, the fans themselves were pretty lucky when it came to finals.
“If you are a Pioneers supporter, 13 times you have come to watch us in a playoff game and 13 times you have walked away feeling good,” he said.
“They haven’t had to deal with a home playoff loss in that time and that is pretty good.
“I feel good about that.
“I don’t know of too many teams who could say that.
“I think we are 18 and four in playoff games which is a crazy stat really.
“It has been a good run, but now we have to try and do it again.”
While the supporters and players have said goodbye to the Icehouse, with a new venue for next season, Hill said it was just another challenge the side would have to face.
At this stage Hill has signed for one more year.
He said the focus on the upcoming season was about putting a team together to be competitive, not about his tenure as head coach.
