Bulldogs Add Rigby to Coaching Ranks

Bury St. Edmunds Basketball Club are delighted to announce that Hayley Rigby will join the club as Associate Head Coach, effective immediately.

Coach Rigby has been a part of the basketball community for over a decade, with a playing career which saw her represent Ipswich Basketball Club from Under 13’s through to Senior Women, as well as playing at the Ipswich Basketball Academy. Additionally, Hayley has represented Suffolk, East Region and England at U17’s.

Coach Hayley Rigby becomes the club's first-ever Associate Head Coach

Following an injury whilst at the Academy, Hayley stepped into coaching, and has worked with players across a range of ages and abilities, culminating in an Under 16 Girl’s National Cup win, and leading the same side to third in the country, amidst a run of several playoff appearances. Coach Rigby also led East Region Under 13 Girls to become Regional Champions.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to work!” said Coach Rigby, “I’ve been around the club this season, and it just felt like it was a great fit for me, an opportunity to take on a little bit more responsibility and to be a more active mentor to coaches, and I really believe in the vision and values of the club.”

“With that being said, I wouldn’t be where I am as a Coach without Ipswich Basketball Club, and Nick Drane. He gave me the opportunity to coach, and stay in the basketball community when I suffered my ACL injury, and at such a young age, coaching was a big challenge for me; I can’t thank him enough for his guidance, support and belief, as he’s been a massive influence on my coaching journey.”

“I believe that coaching in a new environment and with more responsibility will be another challenge, and it’s one I’m looking forwards to!”

Asked about the appointment, Head Coach Arron MacDonald said “I think this is as big a signing as we’ve made as a club, in my opinion Hayley is one of the finest young coaches in the region, and her wanting to be a part of our club demonstrates the growth that we’ve seen as a programme over the past few seasons. Hayley and I coached at Ipswich together and have always stayed in-touch, she’s been around the club this season, mentoring some coaches and taking some sessions on an ad-hoc basis, and it speaks volumes that from there, she’s taken this step to want to come on-board full-time.”

Coach Rigby will be working closely with Coach MacDonald and the other club coaches.

In the role of Associate Head Coach, Hayley will be supporting Arron, and working with the coaches and players across the club to aid in their development, and in embedding a programme-wide philosophy.

“We’ve created this role specifically with Hayley in-mind” said Coach MacDonald, “We’re a volunteer-led club, so we don’t have full-time coaches. It meant that the pressure on me to be everywhere was just getting too much. I trust Hayley, and her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm will simply be priceless to our coaches and players. The Management Committee and I are simply delighted that she’s joined us!”

The club are currently working on the coaching and team lineup for the coming season, and are still looking for more volunteer coaches. If you’d be interested in developing the next generation of players at West Suffolk’s only Clubmark-accredited basketball club, please email: bulldogsbasketball@hotmail.co.uk