Tom Maher facts for kids

Tom Maher is a famous Australian basketball coach. He was born on September 4, 1952, in Melbourne, Victoria. Tom Maher is known for being one of the most successful coaches in women's basketball history.

He has won many championships and led different national teams to great success in the Olympic Games. His coaching career has spanned several decades, making a big impact on the sport.

A Champion Coach

Tom Maher is the most successful coach ever in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). This is Australia's top women's basketball league. He has won an amazing nine championships!

WNBL Success

• He coached the Nunawading Spectres to six championship titles.
• He also led teams from Perth, Canberra, and Bulleen to one championship each.
• Tom Maher was named WNBL Coach of the Year four times. These awards were in 1987, 1992, 2010, and 2011.

Olympic Achievements

Tom Maher has coached several national teams at the Olympic Games. He helped them achieve historic results.

• He led the Australia women's national basketball team to their first Olympic medal. They won a bronze medal in 1996.
• He then coached the Australian team to a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
• In 2004, he coached the New Zealand team, known as the Tall Ferns. They finished eighth at the Athens Olympics, their best performance ever.
• He coached the China women's national basketball team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The team finished in fourth place.
• From 2009 to 2012, he coached the Great Britain women's team. They competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
• He returned to coach the Chinese national women's team for the 2016 Summer Olympics. This was his sixth time coaching a national team at the Olympics! The team finished tenth.

In 2021, Tom Maher was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. This is a very special award for basketball legends.

Coaching Journey

Tom Maher has coached many different teams throughout his career. He has worked with national teams and professional clubs.

Coaching Roles

• 1993–2000: Head Coach for the Australia women's national basketball team.
• 2001: Head Coach for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA.
• 2002–2003: Head Coach for Canberra Women's Basketball Association.
• 2004: Head Coach for the New Zealand women's national basketball team.
• 2006–2008: Head Coach for the China women's national basketball team.
• 2009–2012: Head Coach for the Great Britain women's national basketball team.
• 2013–2016: Head Coach for the China women's national basketball team again.

Team Achievements

Here are some of the major achievements of the teams Tom Maher coached:

• Australia women's national basketball team:
  • 1994 World Championship – 4th place.
  • 1996 Olympic Games – Bronze medal (3rd place).
  • 1998 World Championship – Bronze medal (3rd place).
  • 2000 Olympic Games – Silver medal (2nd place).
• New Zealand women's national basketball team:
  • 2004 Olympic Games – 8th place.
• China women's national basketball team:
  • 2005 Asian Championship – 1st place.
  • 2006 Asian Games – 1st place.
  • 2008 Olympic Games – 4th place.
  • 2014 Asian Games – 2nd place.
  • 2015 Asian Championship – 2nd place.
  • 2016 Olympic Games – 10th place.
• Great Britain women's national basketball team:
  • 2012 Olympic Games – 11th place.

Family Life

Tom Maher is married to Robyn Maher. Robyn was also a very talented basketball player. She used to be the captain of the Australia women's national basketball team.

See also

In Spanish: Tom Maher para niños