Brian Goorjian helped the Boomers create history with a maiden medal in Tokyo, but will he continue coaching Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Brian Goorjian has expressed a desire to coach the Boomers at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but says the final decision rests with Basketball Australia.
Goorjian is still on a high after guiding Australia to its first men’s Olympic medal in Tokyo in August.
The NBL’s most successful mentor is open to building on the Boomers’ historic bronze that was six decades in the making.
Goorjian, 68, plans to meet with Basketball Australia in the coming weeks about his position as national coach.
“That ball is in BA’s court and I’m sure they will sit down and tell me what their thoughts are,” Goorjian said.
“But I’m open minded. “It is like being in the military. Just see what everyone thinks and what is best for this group moving forward.
“But right now, the focus was on my role for this (Tokyo) and the timing was right for that and then this next step or what goes on from here, we will have an evaluation and a discussion, but there is nothing in place at this point.
“That was what we mapped out and now everyone is taking a deep breath and enjoying it.
“Then the discussion of the next step, I’m sure will take place soon.”
Over six weeks have passed since the Boomers claimed bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, but Goorjian is still buzzing.
In fact, there isn’t a day when the master mentor doesn’t feel blessed to have been involved in Australian basketball history.
“I’m emotionally still on a (high) every morning I wake up,” he said.
“I made that conscious effort of not letting it (the Tokyo success) go because I know the people that it touched, and I’ve got such a respect going back to the 70s for what basketball has been through.”
Goorjian also felt the pressure to perform and finally deliver Australia its first men’s medal after decades of pain and sacrifice.
“All eyes were on this, but I was very aware of the other side of the coin walking into that room if we hadn’t had beaten Slovenia,” he reflected.
“It honestly would have broken my heart – I don’t know where I would have gone with Joey (Ingles) and Patty.
“And the buck stops with the coach, so leading into that (the Olympics), it was stressful because I knew the responsibility and the importance.
“So, the feeling now of it actually happening, the elation is incredible.”
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