The position has been created to provide support for newly appointed athlete and coach development manager Nathan Cooper-Brown.

Cunningham will also help oversee the development of coaching and elite player development in Ballarat and Greater Western region.

He stood down after three years at the helm of Rush in the South East Australian Basketball League.

David Flint replaced Cunningham after three seasons with the Miners –  two as head coach and one as an assistant to Eric Hayes.

Basketball Ballarat chief executive officer Peter Eddy said Cunningham would work under the direction of Cooper-Brown – planning the coordination of junior athlete and coach development, specifically in the under-12 and under-14 age groups, and supporting the provision of coaching and elite program services.

Cunningham said it had always been his intention to continue working in the program.

“We have some exceptional juniors coming through our representative and club programs. 

“It’s exciting to be able to help develop a culture and pathway through to our elite Miners and Rush teams,” he said.

Eddy said also as a former state coach and state program manager, Cunningham was well credentialed to take on the new development role for Ballarat.

He said Cunningham had  a genuine interest in junior player and coach education.

“Its’s a real boost to us that his knowledge and expertise will still be available to our players and coaches.”

Eddy said Cunningham would also maintain a voluntary role on the Rush and junior elite teams committees – helping bond these groups together for future planning and development.

He will also have a close relationship with the Basketball Victoria Country under-14 regional academy program to ensure close cohesion between the state and Ballarat programs.

Eddy said priorities for the new role would include:

- developing and maintaining an encouraging and learning environment for the ongoing coach education of the elite program and Ballarat association.

- helping establish and maintain a strong culture of excellence and discipline for all Ballarat program.

- teaching under-12 and under-14 coaches at all levels their responsibility as a role model and educator.

- monitoring Ballarat under-12 and under-14 club level coaches and players, nominating both for holiday talent camps for non-representative level athletes and coaches.