Tom MAHER

Date of birth: 04/09/1952

Place of birth: Melbourne, Australia

Team 2007-08: China National Team

Career: Washington Mystics (WNBA, 2000-01), Canberra Women Committee (2002-03)

International Career: Australia National Team (1993-2000), New Zealand National Team (2002-2004), China National Team (2006-08)

China could not have had put a more qualified person in charge of their National Team than Australian Tom Maher, a coach who led his own country to some of their finest moments at FIBA World Championships and Olympics and even steered New Zealand into the quarter-finals of the Athens Games four years ago – a remarkable achievement.
The victory that put the Kiwis into the last eight came at the expense of China. Less than a year later, on March 16, 2005, Maher was handed the reins to the Chinese, thus becoming the first foreign coach of the women’s National Team. Maher was dubbed “the Magical coach” by the Australian media for his ability to train centers and inside players. Lauren Jackson, one of the best players in the game today, cut her teeth with the Opals under Maher.