Adam Forde (born 11 January 1982) is an Australian professional basketball coach who is the head coach of the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL). Between 2013 and 2019, Forde was an assistant coach with the Perth Wildcats and won four NBL championships. After a season as an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings in 2019–20, he served as their head coach during the 2020–21 season. He was appointed head coach of the Taipans in 2021, and in 2023 he was named the NBL Coach of the Year.

Adam Forde
Forde with the Perth Wildcats in 2017
Cairns Taipans
PositionHead coach
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1982-01-11) 11 January 1982 (age 42)
NationalityAustralian
Career information
Playing career2003–2003
Coaching career2010–present
Career history
As player:
2003Norths Bears
As coach:
2010Rockingham Flames
2011East Perth Eagles (assistant)
2011–2012West Coast Waves (assistant)
2012–2015East Perth Eagles
2013–2019Perth Wildcats (assistant)
2019East Perth Eagles
2019–2020Sydney Kings (assistant)
2020–2021Sydney Kings
2021Hawke's Bay Hawks
2021–presentCairns Taipans
Career highlights and awards

Forde has also coached in the State Basketball League (SBL), most notably guiding the East Perth Eagles men's team to their maiden championship in 2014. He also spent a season as a West Coast Waves assistant in the WNBL and briefly coached the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand NBL in 2021.

Early life

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Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Forde attended college at Jamestown Community College in New York between 2001 and 2003.[1][2] In 2003, he played semi-professionally in the Waratah League for the Norths Bears.[3]

Coaching career

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Forde arrived at the Perth Wildcats in 2011 as an unpaid video tech but was continually promoted during his eight-year tenure.[4] After a stint as a development coach, Forde was appointed the Wildcats' technical assistant on 1 August 2013.[5][6][7] He became a full-time assistant in 2015.[8] Under head coach Trevor Gleeson,[4] Forde won four NBL championships in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019.[8]

In May 2019, Forde was appointed assistant coach of the Sydney Kings.[9] He helped head coach Will Weaver guide the Kings in 2019–20 to the minor premiership and their first NBL Grand Final appearance since 2008.[10] Sydney were defeated 2–1 in a COVID-impacted grand final series against Perth.[4]

On 4 December 2020, following Weaver's departure,[11] Forde was appointed head coach of the Kings for the 2020–21 NBL season.[10] In his first season as an NBL head coach, he guided the Kings to a fifth-place finish and a 19–17 record, just missing out on a finals berth.[12] He parted ways with the Kings following the season.[13]

On 29 June 2021, Forde was appointed head coach of the Cairns Taipans on a two-year deal.[14] After finishing ninth in 2021–22 with just nine wins, he guided the Taipans to 18 wins and a finals spot in 2022–23, as he was named the NBL Coach of the Year.[15][16]

On 3 March 2023, Forde re-signed with the Taipans on a two-year deal.[17]

In 2010, Forde served as head coach of the Rockingham Flames men's team in the State Basketball League (SBL).[18] In 2011, he joined the East Perth Eagles and served as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams.[19]

For the 2012 season, Forde was appointed head coach of the East Perth Eagles men's team.[20] He helped guide the Eagles to the MSBL Grand Final, where they were defeated 105–72 by the Cockburn Cougars.[21] Following a semi-final defeat in 2013, the Eagles returned to the MSBL Grand Final in 2014.[22] Forde helped guide the Eagles to their maiden championship with a 99–83 win over the Geraldton Buccaneers.[23] He stepped down as coach of the Eagles midway through the 2015 season.[24][25]

Forde returned to coach the Eagles in 2019.[8][26]

WNBL

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For the 2011–12 WNBL season, Forde served as an assistant coach with the West Coast Waves.[27][28]

New Zealand NBL

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In July 2020, Forde was appointed head coach of the Hawke's Bay Hawks for the 2021 New Zealand NBL season.[1][2] He split the role in 2021 with Jacob Chance, a fellow assistant with Forde during his time at the Perth Wildcats.[29][30][31][32]

World University Games

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In 2019, Forde served as the lead assistant coach under Rob Beveridge with the Australian Emerging Boomers, helping the team win bronze at the World University Games in Naples, Italy.[1][33]

Personal life

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Forde and his partner Kylie have a son named Carter.[1][34]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "HAWKS SIGN COACH ADAM FORDE FOR 2021". nznbl.basketball. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Basketball: New Hawks coach brings winning record to the Bay". nzherald.co.nz. 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Player statistics for Adam Forde". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Garlepp, Josh (4 December 2020). "Former Perth Wildcats assistant coach Adam Forde named Sydney Kings head coach". PerthNow.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Adam Forde named technical assistant coach". Wildcats.com.au. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. ^ Hope, Shayne (1 August 2013). "Forde shifts into new role at Wildcats". TheWest.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  7. ^ Peden, Lauren (30 July 2013). "Basketball: East Perth Eagles coach Adam Forde eyes finals". PerthNow.com.au. Eastern Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "FORDE BACK AT EAGLES WITH NEW COACHING PHILOSOPHY". SBL.asn.au. 6 April 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
  9. ^ "The Sydney Kings & new head coach Will Weaver have added former Wildcats assistant, Adam Forde to their #NBL20 coaching staff". facebook.com/TheNBL. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Sydney Appoint Adam Forde as Head Coach". NBL.com.au. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  11. ^ Rugari, Vince (6 November 2020). "Sydney Kings coach gets green light to chase NBA gig with Thunder". SMH.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021. While Weaver is away, the Kings will be guided through their pre-season preparations by assistant coaches Adam Forde and James Duncan.
  12. ^ "Kings close out regular season with a bang". SydneyKings.com. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021. 9,267 fans roared themselves hoarse as the Kings withstood a late Brisbane run to finish with three straight wins to close the season and a 19-17 record in what was Head Coach Adam Forde's final game with the organisation.
  13. ^ "Kings and Adam Forde Agree to Part Ways at Season's End". NBL.com.au. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Taipans announce Head Coach Adam Forde". Taipans.com. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Xavier Cooks Wins MVP Honours". NBL.com.au. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Taipans takeover NBL Awards". taipans.com. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Taipans Coach Back For Two More". NBL.com.au. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  18. ^ "East Perth to start "new era"". WABL. 25 October 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Forde was the Head Coach of the Rockingham Flames SBL team in 2010...
  19. ^ "2011". East Perth Eagles. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Forde looking for long-term success at helm of Eagles". SBL. 21 October 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
  21. ^ Ferguson, Frizz (2 September 2012). "Cougars claim SBL championship". Yahoo.com. The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  22. ^ Hope, Shayne (30 August 2014). "Heartbreak the spur for Eagles". TheWest.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  23. ^ Pike, Chris (30 August 2014). "East Perth Eagles win first men's SBL championship". SBL. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Forde signs on for 2015". SBL. 9 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Coach Forde steps down". SBL. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
  26. ^ Lim, Kristie (7 April 2019). "Basketball: East Perth Eagles coach Adam Forde eyes finals". PerthNow.com.au. Eastern Reporter. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Coaches". Wildcats.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  28. ^ "East Perth Eagles Development Camp". East Perth Eagles. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021.
  29. ^ Wakeman, Sharni (18 February 2021). "TAYLOR HAWKS COACH – THE BEST OF EVERYTHING". totaloilnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Hawke's Bay Hawks go for Chance to solve coaching issues". nzherald.co.nz. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Bay Hawks on Facebook". facebook.com/NZBayHawks. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Bay Hawks on Facebook". facebook.com/NZBayHawks. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  33. ^ "EMERGING OPALS AND BOOMERS NAME TEAMS FOR 30TH SUMMER UNIVERSIADE". australia.basketball. 17 June 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  34. ^ Logue, Matt (5 February 2021). "'The fire came within 500 metres of our home' – Kings coach Adam Forde". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
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