Brendan Joyce (bottom row left) with the team he coached to claim the Hawks’ one and only NBL Championship. Photo: Supplied.
Most people who are awarded some sort of title like to retain those titles, but for Brendan Joyce there is one moniker he would gladly relinquish.
For more than two decades Joyce has carried the title of being the only championship coach in the history of the Illawarra Hawks, the region’s National Basketball League club.
Joyce’s legacy is revered in the Illawarra, but as the Hawks take on league powerhouse Melbourne United for the NBL25 championship there is no doubt Joyce is keen to see a second banner hang from the rafters of the WIN Entertainment Centre.
“I hope they win … it’s been a long time,” he reflected speaking from his Melbourne home.
“This is the Hawks’ best chance to win and I would like to see them win. It’s been a long time between drinks since.”
Of course, Joyce is referring to the side he coached to an NBL Championship in 2001, a side now part of Illawarra sports folklore.
Joyce spent 11 largely successful seasons as coach of the Hawks. While his coaching journey has continued all over the world, he is still fondly connected to the region and speaks regularly to friends such as Hawks’ legend Chuck Harmison.
With wife Joanne, the Joyces raised their four children (Daniel, Rebecca, Rhiannon and Taylor) in Wollongong and all were Illawarra Basketball association juniors.
And despite being inducted as a Melbourne United legend for his playing career largely with the now defunct Spectres and Saints, the Hawks Hall of Famer is clear on his choice for this series.
“I think 25 years is too long,” he said.
“The boys at United are sensational, but it would be nice to see the Hawks win.
“This is probably the most talented team I’ve ever seen play for the Hawks.
“Even after a few games earlier in the season, I put out on social media they were championship contenders purely because of (Tyler) Harvey and (Trey) Kell.
“And I’m a big fan of Sam because of my relationship with the Froling family.”
And while the region is quick to get swept up in the emotion of this current campaign, Joyce offers a friendly reminder of the hysteria which engulfed the Illawarra in 2001.
“It brings back memories, but someone said on social media they’ve ‘never heard the WEC so loud’ … well, I have,” he chuckles.
Joyce does though see similarities between the current iteration of the Hawks and his 2001 outfit.
“When I look at the structure of the team, you need a good point guard who can make big plays and for us that was Damon Lowery. In this side, even though he is a combo guard, it’s Tyler Harvey,” he said.
“Kell is Glen Saville, the best player in the league. And he’s the reason they are winning because he does everything and can exploit mismatches just like Saville did.
“And Sam is a centre and we didn’t really have a centre like him, but I see Sam as having the influence of Melvin Thomas with his rebounding and presence to be able to score inside.”
Joyce feels the homecourt advantage weighs heavily in Illawarra’s favour, but is predicting a fiercely contested series.
“It’s great the Hawks have the home court advantage and it gives them a chance to win a series on their home court,” he said.
“But it’s also going to depend on how strong the refs are. Melbourne play with a lot of physicality, but the current Hawks team does as well.
“I wouldn’t underestimate Melbourne’s free-flowing game because Chris Goulding has a green light to shoot and they are structured to play to their strengths. But the Hawks have got a great coaching structure too.”
Joyce has returned to Melbourne after a successful three-year coaching stint in Asia, coaching professional Taiwanese side the Kaohsiung Aquas, including a T1 League championship in 2022. He was also named a head coach for the league’s All-Star game in 2023, getting to coach former NBA star Dwight Howard.
He has returned home to Melbourne to support family after the death of his brother-in-law, respected AFL coach Dale Tapping who passed away earlier this year after an 18-month battle with myeloma, an aggressive form of blood cancer.
While he is open to coaching offers, the passionate Collingwood fan is looking forward to getting to more Magpies games and spending time with his 18-month-old granddaughter Aurora.
“Being a granddad is just the best. It’s everything they tell you it will be,” he states proudly.
“Grandad” is one title Brendan Joyce won’t be losing anytime soon.
The Illawarra Hawks face off against powerhouse Melbourne United for the NBL25 Championship, starting with a home game at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday 8 March. The other dates for the best-of-five series are 12 March (Melbourne home game), 16 March (Illawarra), 19 March (Melbourne) and 23 March (Illawarra). For more details, visit the Finals Hub.
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