“The Taylor Hawks are thrilled to announce our Head Coach for the Sal’s National Basketball 2024 season, Sam Gruggen. Sam has been involved in basketball for the last two decades, spending time in all aspects of the game. The last three years Gruggen  has been an assistant coach in the NBL for the Sydney Kings and currently with the Cairns Taipans”.

Gruggen, a highly sought after coach, brings a wealth of experience from both a coaching and player development perspective.

Most recently, Sam has spent his time as an assistant coach in the Australian National Basketball League with the Sydney Kings and the Cairns Taipans. He has been a major part of the Taipan’s recent success, helping them become championship contenders last season, only to fall short to eventual winners the Kings.

Gruggen has been a key figure in the development of some of Australia’s best up and coming basketballers. Player development was a key priority in his roles as Head Coach of High Performance at Basketball New South Wales and as the Southern Development Officer at Basketball Tasmania. With proven results of developing players skill sets and their basketball IQ, the Hawks management and governors believe this will be extremely beneficial to not only the team, but to basketball in Hawke’s Bay.

“I’m extremely excited to join Hawke’s Bay Hawks and I’d like to thank Jarrod Kenny and the board for putting their trust in me. Their vision of player development (both in Hawke’s Bay and around New Zealand) along with their commitment to building a successful and hard working roster aligns perfectly with my coaching philosophy. The organisation has been working diligently putting together a roster that has a great mix of young and talented players with experienced veterans. I’m excited to get over to Hawke’s Bay and be a part of this supportive and passionate community,” shares Gruggen.

Taylor Hawks General Manager Jarrod expressed his enthusiasm about Coach. “We are thrilled to have Sam lead our team next season. His drive for excellence in every facet of the game is impressive. We are confident that this characteristic will inspire and elevate our entire team and staff, helping them reach their full potential. Sam’s commitment to player development aligns seamlessly with our vision of building a team that our community is proud of.”