MEDIA RELEASE: Sarah Veale to retire as Head Coach
MEDIA RELEASE: TORNS ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT OF HEAD COACH VEALE
With the Launceston Tornadoes’ season ending last weekend, Sarah Veale has formally announced her decision to step down as Head Coach upon the expiration of her current contract in late August.
Veale, a much-respected Tasmanian basketball coach, has been at the helm of the Tornadoes since 2019, when the Club entered its inaugural season of the NBL1. Veale has now made the difficult decision to step away from her Head Coaching position due to personal/family reasons.
Veale, as the Tornadoes’ longest standing Head Coach, has been a source of encouragement and stability for the Club’s players throughout her tenure. Her leadership was particularly noteworthy during her first two years, which saw the cancellation of her first season and significant disruptions in her second season which finished early due to COVID-19. Despite these setbacks, Veale achieved significant success over the years, and was instrumental in bringing Keely Froling, WNBL Champion, NBL1 South All Star Five Player and Opals Squad Member, to the Tornadoes. Last year Veale also led the Tornadoes through their thirtieth season as a Club, which was fitting given that she herself was a player when the Club won the CBA Conference Championship and ABA National Championship in 1995.
Veale’s time as Head Coach yielded mixed results on the ladder, with the Tornadoes placing fifth in 2021 (10 wins from 14 games), eighth in 2022 (14 wins from 22 games), fourteenth in 2023 (9 wins from 22 games), and sixteenth in 2024 (6 wins from 22 games). Those results saw the Tornadoes make the NBL1 South finals in Veale’s first two playing season, with the Tornadoes making it to the elimination final in 2022.
The Tornadoes’ Acting-Chairperson, Lauren Faulkner, who was coached by Veale as a junior, said: “I take my hat off to Sarah. Head Coaching at this level is a huge commitment, particularly for Tasmanian based teams. Sarah has given a lot of herself to the Tornadoes over the last half-a-decade. The Club has been extremely fortunate to have someone as passionate as her leading our playing group for such a lengthy tenure.”
Looking ahead, Faulkner added: “Sarah cares deeply for those she coaches and about the success of our Club more generally. So, it is crucial that we find someone who can build on the foundation she has laid. At a board level we will be exploring options that see Sarah continue to be involved with the Club in some shape or form into the future.”
The Tornadoes extend their heartfelt gratitude to Sarah for her dedication, passion, and significant contributions over the years. Her impact on the team and the community has been profound, and she will always be a valued member of our Club.
Reflecting on her time as a Head Coach, Veale noted: "My decision to retire was always going to be a difficult one, even though it is what is needed right now for my family. I am so proud of this club, and what we have managed to achieve despite some of the hurdles. Commencing the development program as a much-needed component to this elite pathway for our young Tasmanian women has been really rewarding. I look forward to continuing to support the Tornadoes and cannot thank the players – such an amazing group of young women – Board of Directors, and my staff in Hayden Zasadny, Nathan Lee, Chloe Heather, and Nicole McCullagh for their support this season.”
Next year the Tornadoes’ focus will be on striking the right balance between continuing to invest in developing local juniors, bringing local talent back to Tasmania, and head-hunting imports who will buy into the ethos of the Club.
The Tornadoes will be calling for formal expressions of interest for their Head Coaching position next month. The board intends to consider suitable candidates both locally and interstate.