Brendan Dowler is stepping down from the coaching role with the Roller Hawks. Photos: Supplied.
Brendan Dowler is stepping away as coach of the Just Better Care Roller Hawks in 2025, but he insists it’s not goodbye — just a break.
After years of guiding the team to multiple championships, Dowler is pausing to focus on family, leaving behind a legacy of success and camaraderie that extends far beyond the basketball court.
“I’m hopeful someone can come in with fresh ideas because I want nothing but success for the Roller Hawks and I don’t see myself there in 10 years doing the same thing over and over so I thought now might be good to take a break,” he said.
“The principles of basketball are the same for everybody, the foundations we play by, we try to have a high basketball IQ and understand the game and that’s what we operate from as our starting point and from there we can leverage out.”
Having flagged his departure last year, the Roller Hawks have already taken steps to fill the role for 2025, with a new-look coaching line-up set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
However, it’s not the first time Dowler has stepped down from the coaching role, having moved aside in 2012 to start a family – and it’s family again that calls for him to take a break.
“With family between sport and school, moving into high school and the demands that are there now, but also with the group of players who are very experienced and really strong, I thought now was a good time for me to take a bit of a break,” he said.
Dowler’s departure will certainly be felt by the club, having played a role in every Roller Hawks championship – whether as a player or coach – including his return in 2017 to lead the side to four consecutive titles.
Roller Hawks club president Geoff Adams said he was sorry to see Dowler go.
“He’s been a tremendous influence on this club for a long time but we respect that he wants to take some time away,” Adams said.
“In any event, he’s said he’s not finished for good and I’m sure we’ll still see plenty of him. In fact, I’ll make sure of it.
“I’ve learnt so much about the game from listening to him address the team at training or time-outs, or even just chatting with him as he puts the team through their paces.
“I can only imagine the impact he’s had on the players.”
Dowler with the team, which he has led to four consecutive championships.
Dowler counts the 2022 championship as the highlight of his time back as coach.
“I think the one straight after COVID – 2022 – we’d won the three, then one season was cancelled, the next one we were undefeated until halfway through,” he said.
“It had been a long time coming and then to win that one, I think there was just a huge relief I remember feeling after that one.”
Dowler has always reminded his players that championships come and go, but to him there is so much more than on-court success to be savoured from his time with the club.
“On paper, the club has been really successful; it’s got a high rate of success with the number of years it’s been in and the number of championships it’s held, but it’s maybe as much about the intangibles that you get through a sporting group,” he said.
“Especially being a disability sporting club, people with disabilities and giving people the opportunity, I think it also provides that confidence and camaraderie that goes a lot further than just the basketball.
“It impacts so many people’s lives in such a far-reaching way and into their personal lives as well.
“So to have that group … and your friends and the camaraderie you get from all of that, I think just helps people’s lives, especially some who have gone through some tough times.”
He said having a group of people who shared similar experiences who went on to achieve through disability sport, “that’s one of the big things for me”.
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