Posted on 25 October, 2022
Hannah Lowe has re-signed as head coach of the NBL1 Kilsyth Cobra Women for the 2023 season.
Lowe returns to Kilsyth for a third season, after going a combined 19-18 over her first season an a half with the Cobras. After a scintillating 9-4 start to 2021 prior to the season’s abrupt end, Lowe’s Cobras posted a 9-13 record in 2022 as they faced a seemingly never-ending battle with injuries and absences. Leading scorers Lauren Scherf and Chloe Bibby missed a combined 11 games, while key rotational players Georgia Booth, Carly Turner, Isis Lopes and Abi Curtin missed a further eight.
Despite Lowe’s challenges with player availability – she was even forced to start guard Nikita Young at the centre position in Round 11 – her Cobra team defeated a trio of top-four teams in 2022 – one of only two clubs to do so this past season. In addition to taking down a number of the league’s best teams – and finding ways to stay competitive with some creative lineups – Lowe’s guidance of Kilsyth juniors Booth, Young and Sarah Haberfield, saw her young core flourish at the NBL1 level in 2022.
When healthy, the Cobras were a playoff calibre team in 2022, and coupled with the development of the youth of the Cobras roster, Lowe has laid the groundwork for a big 2023 season.
“We’re happy to have Hannah return after navigating a challenging season with import issues, injuries and players with national commitments,” Manager of Basketball Operations, Mark Watkins said.
“We’re confident she will continue to develop her young players and build a team to contend for a championship in 2023.”
While Lowe has enjoyed some early successes along her NBL1 coaching journey, she has quietly progressed up the WNBL ranks, too. The former championship-winning head coach of the Victorian U20 Women has signed as an assistant coach with the WNBL’s Southside Flyers, after spending a pair of seasons amongst the Sydney Uni Flames coaching ranks. With additional WNBL experience under her belt, possessing a knack for player development, and a strong start to her coaching tenure at Kilsyth, Lowe is poised for a breakout season ahead with the Cobras.
