Posted on 2 November, 2022

Reigning NBL1 South Men’s Coach of the Year, Pete Godfrey, has re-signed to lead the NBL1 Cobra Men for the 2023 season.

Godfrey has enjoyed a stellar start to his tenure as head coach of the NBL1 Cobra Men, going a combined 25-10 over the past two seasons. Godfrey guided the Cobras to a 16-6 mark in 2022 – including a league-best 10-1 record at home – tying them for second in the South Conference standings. The Cobras strong regular season would saw them secure a home playoff game, and they would make the most of as they defeated the Bendigo Braves in a Semi Final thriller to advance to the conference Final Four.

The Cobras were the only Victorian team to advance to the Conference Preliminary Finals, making them the highest finishing team in the state for 2022. But while their regular season and playoff success was impressive, the highlight of the season for Godfrey and co. was how they got there. The Cobras boasted an incredible nine Kilsyth juniors on their roster – with all nine progressing through the Kilsyth junior domestic and VYC programs – a number unrivalled in the NBL1 in 2022 and a testament to Godfrey’s willingness to invest in the Cobras pathway.

Over the past two seasons, Godfrey has fostered a selfless, winning culture within his group; one that has enabled his group to far exceed preseason expectations. In a league riddled with NBL talent – and one that promotes it’s national league players heavily – the Cobras featured just one such player in 2022; although by seasons end it could be argued that a number of local Cobra stars were worthy of serious NBL consideration. Flying under the radar, Godfrey received standout contributions from his entire roster (10 of his 11 contracted players enjoyed double-digit scoring outings in 2022), while the Cobras tight-knit, gritty group finished the season as one of the NBL1’s elite defensive units. And at season’s end, it came as no surprise that Godfrey was named the NBL1 South Men’s Coach of the Year for 2022.

“Peter did a fantastic job with the Cobra Men in 2022, making the final four and finishing with the best home record in conference,” Kilsyth Manager of Basketball Operations, Mark Watkins said.

“Winning the NBL1 South Head Coach of the Year award was recognition for creating a great culture within the team, and we look forward to Peter taking the group to the next level in 2023.”

With Godfrey locked in for the new season and the his home grown core eying a return, too, the sky is the limit for the Cobras moving into 2023 and beyond.