The Wellington Saints have signed Australian basketball great Shane Heal to coach them in this year's New Zealand domestic championship.
Heal, 43, will take charge at the Saints after finishing his commitments as head coach of the Sydney Kings in the NBL.
"While my focus is squarely aimed at helping the Kings with a championship right now, I'm really looking forward to coaching in NZ in the off-season and most especially with the Wellington Saints," Heal said in a Saints club statement.
"They have a proud history and plenty of success and this attracted me to coach with them during the ANBL off-season."
In a 21-year playing career, Heal played at four Olympic Games and had two stints in the NBA.
The former Australian assistant coach says a period with the Saints, where he succeeds former Tall Blacks great Pero Cameron, will further his development as a coach.
The Saints said Heal would bring "toughness and tenacity to the organisation and will instantly command respect".
Saints owner Nick Mills has previously pushed for a Wellington team to be included in an expanded NBL alongside the Auckland-based New Zealand Breakers.
