The Australian Boomers have reportedly found their next leader, with Washington Wizards assistant coach Adam Caporn set to take over as the national team’s head coach.
The news, broken by SEN’s Andy Maher and Andrew Gaze, suggests that Caporn has been selected from a strong shortlist that included Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, former German national team coach Gordon Herbert, and Boomers assistant Will Weaver.
“Did you hear anything about the head coaching position? Because I’m being led to believe that it is done and dusted and a decision has been arrived and a man by the name of Adam Caporn will be the next coach of the Boomers.” said Maher.
Caporn’s coaching journey has been deeply connected to Australian basketball. After a playing career that included time in the NBL with the Perth Wildcats, he transitioned into coaching in 2010 and quickly built a strong reputation.
He spent seven years as head coach at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, where he played a key role in developing some of the country’s top young talent, including current Boomers stars Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels.
His international experience includes serving as an assistant coach for the Boomers from 2019 to 2023, contributing to their bronze medal success at the Tokyo Olympics. He later moved into the NBA system, first as the head coach of the Long Island Nets in the G-League before joining the Washington Wizards as an assistant.
While Caporn is widely respected within Australian basketball circles, his appointment comes as something of a surprise given the other candidates in contention. Snyder, an established NBA head coach, and Herbert, who led Germany to gold at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, were considered strong frontrunners.
Andrew Gaze, speaking on SEN, admitted he was somewhat surprised by the decision but acknowledged Caporn’s qualifications and his long-standing involvement with the Boomers program.
“Adam Caporn is a fantastic candidate because he’s been with Brian Goorjian the last few years, and I think he was there with Andrej Lemanis as well. So he’s been around the team a long time,” he said.
“But when you look at the other candidates—Gordon Herbert, who coached Germany to a gold medal, and Quin Snyder, who is an NBA head coach—it’s a little surprising.”
Despite the unexpected nature of the appointment, Caporn’s deep understanding of the Boomers system and his track record in player development appear to have been key factors in Basketball Australia’s decision.
Gaze added he had heard the process was done and considering the situation that indicated Caporn was set to be announced as the new leader of the national team as well.
“I spoke to the CEO, Matt Scriven, and I said, ‘Where are you at with the appointment of the Boomers coach?’ And he said, ‘Yep, we’ll have the announcement in a couple of weeks. It’s just got to be presented to the board for final approval,’” Maher revealed. “So that, to me, suggests they’ve made their decision.”
With the Boomers already qualified for the next phase of FIBA Asia Cup competition, Caporn will have time to shape the team’s direction as they prepare for major tournaments, including the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. His expertise in player development could prove crucial as the Boomers transition to a new generation led by Giddey, Daniels, and Jock Landale.
If finalized, it marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Boomers, with Caporn now responsible for steering Australian basketball into the next era of international competition.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
One Response to the post:
Know little of Adam Caporn, so the following is not a criticism of him, but merely a question on the role of Boomers’ HC.
Is development of players something you’re looking for from this position? I honestly would have thought that, how to get the best out of the already-best-developed players available, would be the main aim.
Leadership, X’s and O’s, communication skills and man-management probably more important, at that end of the coaching system.