18 hours Ago By Murray Wenzel
Stu Lash will take over as coach of the Brisbane Bullets team he was advising when a review sparked the axing of Justin Schueller. Lash was unveiled on Thursday as the club's new head coach while Stephen Bird, a professor at the University of Southern Queensland, will serve as the Bullets' high-performance director. At the club since 2023 as senior basketball adviser, Lash was initially on the panel hunting for a new coach before the ownership team suggested he join the shortlist of contenders.
Schueller held the position for two seasons, with injuries in the latest campaign ruining their hopes of a much-needed finals appearance and also sparking an independent review that led to Bird's appointment. The Bullets were 12-17 last season and have not made the playoffs since the 2018-19 season, their only finals run since returning to the league in 2016. American Lash had a long history in NBA front offices at the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets before his arrival in Brisbane.
Counting former Nuggets coach and Hall of Famer George Karl as a close friend, he plans to lean on those contacts and experiences in the new role. The Bullets have Tyrell Harrison, Mitch Norton, James Batemon, Casey Prather, Tohi Smith-Milner, and Sam McDaniel contracted and are among a host of NBL clubs hunting the signature of free agent Matthew Dellavedova. "The Bullets have laid a strong foundation, and I'm excited to build on that as we take the next step," Lash said.
"This club has the right pieces in place, and now it's about bringing them together." Bullets chief executive Mal Watts is confident Lash's move from the office to the sidelines will work. "Stu Lash is a proven leader with a deep understanding of the club's roster and culture, as well as an elite basketball pedigree," he said.
"Myself, along with our ownership, players and staff, firmly believe that Stu has the ability and mindset to unlock the full potential of the Bullets and lead the team to success both on and off the court. "Coupled with Stephen Bird's world-class expertise in athlete development and performance science, I am confident these two appointments will be a game-changer for the way we support and prepare our players.".
