2026 BIGV COACHES ANNOUNCED
The McKinnon Cougars are proud to announce their coaching appointments for BIGV26, with 3 out of 4 coaches returning to The Den, and the addition of a Championship winning coach to the program!
Following a highly successful year across all four BigV teams—highlighted by 38 McKinnon juniors stepping onto the floor and every team finishing with a winning record—the Cougars continue to prove that on-court success and the development of junior athletes can go hand in hand.
Announcing our BigV Coaches for 2026…
YOUTH LEAGUE DIVISIONS
YOUTH LEAGUE MEN - DANIEL GIANCHINO
Coach Daniel “Shorty” Gianchino will be returning as Head Coach of our Youth League Men’s team in 2026.
Daniel has once again guided the group to the Finals in Youth League 1 Men, and with that, another opportunity to compete in the Youth Qualification Tournament in early 2026, with a chance to elevate the group to the Victoria Championship divison.
Leading one of the youngest rosters in the league, and the youngest that McKinnon has fielded in recent times, Coach Shorty led the group to a 17-5 record, including a 13-game win streak - good for 2nd overall in YL1.
What truly sets Daniel apart is his passion and knowledge for the game, pursuit of perfection, and ability to provide opportunities that bring the very best out of his athletes - all while instilling in them a genuine love for basketball.
Coach Shorty shared his thoughts:
“Super keen to have another opportunity with an extraordinary group of young men, along with up and coming athletes from our McKinnon Junior program. We’re out to prove that the development of club juniors does not have to be sacrificed in order to create a winning program on the court.
I’m just as excited to continue to work with such great assistant coaches—Eamon McGrath, Bill Runchey and Ben Corrigan—and we hope to use this platform to continue to develop more coaches from our Junior Cougars program in 2026.
#CougarPride!”
We can’t wait to see Daniel continue to build pathways for our juniors and shaping the future of Cougars basketball!
YOUTH LEAGUE WOMEN - RYAN POTTER
Coach Ryan Potter will be returning as Head Coach of our Youth League Women’s team in 2026.
After stepping up from Assistant Coach last season, Ryan led the Championship-winning, Youth League 1 Women into the Victorian Championship Division during the 2025 Youth Qualification Tournament, where they immediately made their mark on the competition.
Under Ryan’s leadership their performance was second to none, leading the team to a 13-9 record and narrowly missing out on finals, only due to ‘Head-to-Head’, in their FIRST EVER season in the top youth division.
Coach Ryan on his re-appointment:
“I am incredibly excited to continue working with this amazing group for the 2026 season. After progressing into VYCW for the first time in club history last season and only just missing out on finals, the girls and coaching staff are more dedicated than ever towards taking the next step and raising another banner for McKinnon.
I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to help develop both player and person, and continue to enhance and progress the incredible culture that has been built in the Youth League Women’s program over the last few years. Thank you to the club for trusting me with this position, I know that we will make the whole McKinnon community proud this season!”
With his strong connection and belief in our Junior program, we can’t wait to see how Ryan continues to develop this talented young group and guide them as they grow into future stars of the Cougars Senior program.
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP MEN - ADAM WALSH
We’re excited to welcome back Adam Walsh as Head Coach of our Championship Men’s team for 2026!
Fresh off securing his 2nd Championship in just 3 years, Adam knows exactly what it means to be a Cougar.
He brings with him not only the respect of his players, but also a relentless passion for the game. With his strong focus on excellence, culture, and a winning mindset, Adam’s return sets the stage for another exciting season as we continue building a strong, competitive, and united Men’s program.
Coach Adam laid down the challenge for the season ahead:
“I’m thrilled to return as coach. McKinnon has set the benchmark in this league,, and our challenge now is to continue raising that standard as we move forward.”
Exciting times ahead with Adam at the helm — welcome back!
CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN - MASON ROGERS
McKinnon Cougars are thrilled to welcome Mason Rogers as the newly appointed Head Coach of our Championship Women’s team for 2026!
Head Coach Nathan Geer will make his exit from the role after a successful season, finishing in 3rd place with a record of 16-6.
We wish Nathan all the best with his new role at Basketball Victoria!
Mason joins us after a phenomenal season with the Bulleen Boomers, where he led their Championship Women to the 2025 Championship title. We are so excited about the wealth of Championship level experience Mason will bring to the Cougars program, along with his unwavering knowledge of the game and his true passion for the pathway and development of not only our athletes but also coaches.
Here’s what Mason had to say on signing with the Cougars:
“I’m very excited to be joining the McKinnon Cougars for the 2026 BigV season. From the outset, I was blown away by the professionalism and support the club offers, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a driven program. I want to acknowledge the fantastic work Nathan Geer has done in building the foundations of this team over the past year, and I look forward to building on the structure he has created.
My goal for the Cougars is simple – to create a pathway that enables sustainable progression for our Youth League Women and junior players to proudly represent the club, while also competing for championships every season. I’m excited to get to work with the athletes and begin shaping our culture so that we can deliver a professional, competitive, and fun style of basketball for McKinnon fans.”
Welcome to the Cougar family, Mason – we can’t wait for what’s ahead in 2026!
