Coaching

Coaching Philosophy

We want to make our players better people, not just better basketball players. We want them to develop confidence in their own abilities; as players definitely, but also as table officials, coaches, referees and citizens. If we win cups and trophies along the way (and we do!), that's an excuse for a celebration. We keep our squads small and the coach to player ratio high, in order that children get the best possible attention.

The most important thing in basketball is that our players reach the peak of their potential, wherever that peak may be. At the absolute pinnacle of playing achievement we have had four junior members become either England or Wales internationals while still with the Bulldogs and have provided the platform for three others to achieve national representative honours as players or coaches.

Coaches

Head Coach Trevor Gauntlett was Assistant Coach to the Ellesmere Port Panthers under-14 girls team that went to the RAF Final Fours at Cosford in 2004 and coached the same squad minus their top scorer as under-16 girls in the following season, reaching the play-offs. He assisted with Ellesmere Port under-16 boys for two seasons before deciding to coach only at the Bulldogs in 2007.

Under-18 Coach Harrison Edwards played five seasons at Ellesmere Port Panthers as an under-14, under-16 and under-18. He also represented Merseyside in the North West “1991” competition.

Under-16 Coach Chris Newton has enormous coaching experience in the UK and Denmark, where he coached and played in their National League.

Executive Coach Tim Janvier was Sport Coach UK Young Coach of the year in 2005 and has coached in the National Leagues at under-16 boys, under-18 men and Wheelchair. He was also a player in the dominant Chester Jets teams of the early part of the century, including the “Jetwash” squad.