He will be assisted by another former Miner's coach Brendan Joyce, who led Ballarat to two ABA championships in 1994-95.

Sydney Kings coach Brett Brown was also announced as an assistant coach.

The former Miners' duo exemplified Ballarat's traditional high standard of basketball.

Ballarat Basketball Association executive officer Peter Eddy said he was delighted to see both coaches achieve "what we know has been a long-held dream of both of them to be involved in the Australian program".

"We believe it is a just reward in recognition of their high coaching credentials and their loyalty to the sport," Mr Eddy said.

"Both coaches are very passionate, have excellent teaching skills and are totally committed to the cause of developing young players and I believe that they will be vital in re-building the Australian team," Mr Eddy.

"Brian (Goorjian) coached in 1986 and 1987 and he was responsible for taking our program into the ABA competition for the first time.

"He took a group of raw, young Ballarat players to a very competitive level and a team that was feared for their aggressive defence and never-say-die attitude which is the legacy that Brian left us and that we we still maintain today," Mr Eddy said.

He said as a relative newcomer to the Australian competition he was sure Joyce would be great support to Goorjian.

Goorijan, Australia's most successful coach, will lead a revamped Boomers' coaching panel announced by Basketball Australia yesterday afternoon.

Goorjian will oversee a coaching panel that includes NBL championship winning coaches Brown and Joyce, who were named as assistant coaches, as the Boomers look to rebound from the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2002 World Championship. The Boomers will seek qualification for the Athens Olympic Games against New Zealand in 2003.

"We are extremely pleased to have put together such an experienced and respected coaching panel," Basketball Australia Chief Executive Scott Derwin said in Sydney yesterday.

"Brian, Brett and Brendan have demonstrated their ability to develop and lead quality players and teams, and we have every confidence that they will work to ensure the Boomers qualify for, and succeed, at the Athens Olympics.

"The fact that they have successfully worked together and have an obvious respect for Australian basketball and for each other ensures that the Boomers are in the best possible hands," he said.

The coaching staff boasts 524 NBL victories, four championships and six NBL Coach of the Year awards.

For the first time, the Boomers coaching panel comprises three NBL championship winning coaches.

Goorjian brings outstanding coaching credentials to the head coaching position.

A three-time Coach of the Year, Goorjian is the only coach to have won 300 NBL games, and is one of only six coaches to record more than 300 victories in any of Australia's major sporting leagues (National Rugby League, Australian Football League, National Basketball League, National Soccer League).

"The national team program is crucial to Australian basketball, and I am excited and proud to have been entrusted with this role," Goorjian said.

"The opportunity to work with Basketball Australia, the Boomers and with Brett and Brendan is one that any coach would be excited about.

" We believe that the nucleus of players available for the Boomers presents the opportunity for Australia to enjoy the success and reach the standards of previous Australian teams," Goorjian said.

"There is a lot of work to be done, and that makes the position of all of the coaches that much more challenging.

"I know I speak for Brett and Brendan when I say we are looking forward to those challenges and to working with the players to bring Australian basketball the success it deserves," he said.

The 48-year-old Goorjian began his NBL coaching career with the Eastside Spectres in 1988, and has led his teams to unprecedented success over the past 14 seasons.