The Melbourne Tigers today announced that Warrick ‘Wazza’ Giddey was relinquishing the head coaching role of the NBL1 women’s team. His final game at the helm will be at MSAC this Sunday v Sabres.
After 449 NBL games as a player and having his singlet retired by the Tigers, Wazza has coached extensively over many years.
Coming out of a covid ravaged 2021 season, and with the Tiger’s host association in transition, securing a quality coach for the women’s program was a challenge. Thankfully Wazza answered the call and ran the team for seasons 2022 and 2023.
Giddey led from the front and worked very hard, with possibly the youngest player list in the league, to create a positive and viable program.
The win/loss column over the last two years has absolutely no bearing on how the Club views Wazza’s contribution. His commitment, enthusiasm and energy were outstanding and we saw the amazing growth of many young athletes taught and mentored by Wazza.
One of the motivations to stand down is that Wazza wants to have more time to travel. (It’s understood he has a son playing somewhere overseas!) But his smiling face, positive attitude and warm personality will be sorely missed.
Get down to MSAC this Sunday (July 16) at 12.30 to see Wazza wield his white board in his final NBL1 game. And say ‘thank you’ to a wonderful coach and human being.
The only people sadder than the Tigers are the local coffee vendors in and around MSAC, who may face bankruptcy due to Wazza withdrawing his patronage!