The Tasmania Jewels have unveiled an “outstanding” line up of assistant coaches which includes some famous and new faces for Tasmanian basketball fans.
Congratulations go to Lead Assistant Coach Jack Fleming, Assistant Coach Zoe Mesman, Advanced Scout and Strategy Matt Clarke and Development Coach Shakira Bone.
The position of Development Coach is new for the club, and one that the Jewels were determined to appoint to ensure there was a clear pathway to develop off-court women’s talent too.
Jewels Head Coach Claudia Brassard said she was thrilled to share her excitement for an outstanding group of coaches selected to join the Jewel team.
“Each of these coaches has been carefully selected because I am confident they will make a significant contribution to our program and help us establish the culture we want the Tasmania Jewels to be known for,” Brassard said.
“Collectively, they bring a remarkable blend of experience, expertise, and fresh, innovative ideas, but what truly sets them apart is their genuine commitment to developing people both on and off the court.
“More importantly, they share our vision of building a club that will make Tasmania proud.
“They will play a key role in creating an environment where players know they will be challenged, supported and pushed to improve every day, helping establish the Tasmania Jewels as a destination club where athletes come to get better and reach their full potential.
“I'm incredibly excited about the exceptional quality of staff we have been able to recruit and I'm looking forward to working alongside this outstanding group as we begin the journey of building something special together.”
Jack Fleming – Lead Assistant Coach
Jack joins the Jewels after five seasons with the Tasmania JackJumpers and Melbourne United in the NBL, where he has built a reputation as one of Australia's brightest young coaches. Importantly, Jack was part of the JackJumpers' foundation coaching staff, helping establish the systems, standards and culture of a successful expansion franchise from day one. Jack also coached the U19 Gems at 2025 World Cup to a silver medal. His experience building a professional program from the ground up, combined with his expertise in scouting, game planning, player development and talent identification, makes him an invaluable addition to the Jewels inaugural coaching team.
Zoe Mesman – Assistant Coach
Zoe is one of Tasmania's most talented and up-and-coming coaches. Through her leadership with the Northern Force in the NBL1 and her success coaching Basketball Tasmania state teams at national championships, Zoe has established herself as a highly respected coach. Her teams are known for their resilience, toughness and competitive spirit, qualities that reflect her approach to coaching and leadership.
Matt Clarke – Advanced Scout and Strategy
Matt brings several years of WNBL experience and a proven track record in opposition scouting, tactical preparation and game-plan design. His ability to translate detailed analysis into winning strategies, identify competitive advantages and support in-game adjustments will be a significant asset as we build a championship-calibre program in our inaugural season.
Shakira Bone – Development Coach
Shakira joins the Jewels as Development Coach. A talented young coach from Hobart, Shakira represents the next generation of coaching talent in Tasmania and will play an important role in supporting player development and strengthening our pathway programs.
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