Nunawading Basketball is proud to announce the appointment of Libby Schoenfeld as Head Coach of the Nunawading Spectres NBL1 Women for the 2027 season.
For Schoenfeld, the appointment represents the latest step in a connection with the Spectres that began as a junior player and has continued throughout her progression as a coach.
After progressing through the Spectres junior coaching ranks, Schoenfeld joined the NBL1 Women coaching staff as an Assistant Coach in 2021.
She continued to coach within the Spectres junior program while serving at NBL1 level, remaining closely connected to the development of the program’s next generation of athletes while honing her craft within the senior environment.
Schoenfeld has also continued to broaden her coaching experience outside Nunawading and has been a valued coach within Basketball Victoria’s State Team and High Performance pathways.
She will now have the opportunity to lead the senior program she grew up in.
Nunawading Basketball General Manager – Representative, Brand & Commercial Paul Flynn said Schoenfeld had earned the opportunity.
“Libby has invested an enormous amount into this program over a long period of time, first as a player and then as a coach.
“Since joining our NBL1 staff in 2021, she has continued to grow as a coach while never stepping away from coaching our juniors. She’s invested in our athletes, she’s invested in her own growth and she’s put herself in a position to be ready for this opportunity.
“We spend a lot of time talking about pathways for athletes, but genuine pathways need to exist for coaches as well.”
“We saw a similar pathway with Andrew Cutler, who progressed through our program before taking the reins of our NBL1 Men in 2021. Libby’s appointment is another example of what can happen when we invest in our own coaches and provide genuine opportunities for them to progress.”
“For a young coach who grew up in our program to now have the opportunity to lead our NBL1 Women is something we should be incredibly proud of.”
“But ultimately, Libby has been appointed because she’s ready. She’s done the work and earned the opportunity to lead.”
Schoenfeld said the opportunity to take charge of the NBL1 Women carried particular significance given her history with Nunawading.
“Nunawading has been a huge part of my life, and I’m incredibly proud of where I’ve come from. There have been a number of people who have invested in me throughout my journey and helped me grow as a coach. I’ve been fortunate to learn from some great coaches, work with talented athletes and gain experience across different levels of the game, and I’m excited to bring all of that into this role.
“This is an opportunity to continue to build something that our players, staff, juniors and the broader Spectres community can be proud of.”
Flynn said Schoenfeld’s experience across different levels of the program would provide an important foundation as preparations begin for the 2027 season.
“Libby knows our people. She understands our junior program and she knows the senior environment. She has coached athletes as they’ve progressed through different stages of that pathway and understands the responsibility our NBL1 program has to what sits beneath it.”
“At the same time, this isn’t about asking Libby to maintain what has existed before her. This is her team now. She deserves the opportunity to put her own stamp on it, build her staff and create the environment she wants our athletes to be part of.”
“We’re incredibly excited to see where she takes it.”
Schoenfeld’s appointment continues Nunawading Basketball’s commitment to developing coaches alongside athletes and creating genuine opportunities for people to progress through the Spectres program.
From junior Spectres player, to junior coach, NBL1 Assistant Coach and Basketball Victoria pathway coach, Schoenfeld will now lead the Nunawading Spectres NBL1 Women.
Preparations for the 2027 NBL1 South season already commenced.
