Brendan Dowler will not continue as coach of the Just Better Care Roller Hawks in 2025 but insists he’s not retiring, just taking a break.

“I thought it was a good time to take a break, with family between sport and school, moving into high school and the demands that are there now but also with the group of players who are very experienced and really strong so I thought now was a good time for me to take a bit of a break,” said Dowler.

It’s the second time Dowler has given up the Roller Hawks coaching gig, moving aside in 2013 to start a family. 

Dowler’s departure leaves a massive void at the club, he’s been involved with every Roller Hawks championship either as a player or coach including returning in 2017 to guide the side to four straight championships.

“I’m hopeful someone can come in with fresh ideas because I want nothing but success for the Roller Hawks and I don’t see myself there in ten years doing the same thing over and over so I thought now might be good to take a break.”

“The principles of basketball are the same for everybody, the foundations we play by, we try to have a high basketball IQ and understand the game and that’s what we operate from as our starting point and from there we can leverage out.”

Dowler counts the 2022 championship as the highlight of his time back as coach.

“I think the one straight after COVID, 2022, we’d won the three then one season was cancelled, the next one we were undefeated until halfway through, it had been a long time coming and then to win that one I think there was just a huge relief I remember feeling after that one.”

Dowler has always reminded his players that championships come and go; to him there is so much more than on-court success to be savoured from his time with the club.

“On paper the club has been really successful, it’s got a high rate of success with the number of years it’s been in and the number of championships it’s held but it’s maybe as much the intangibles that you get through a sporting group.”

“Especially being a disability sporting club, people with disabilities and giving people the opportunity and think it also provides that confidence and camaraderie that goes a lot further than just the basketball.”

“It impacts so many people’s lives in such a far reaching way and into their personal lives as well so to have that group and you know you’ve got that core there and your mates and your friends and the camaraderie you get from all of that I think just helps people’s lives especially some people who have gone through some tough times.” 

“Having that group of people that perhaps sharing some similar experiences and then achieving so much through the channels and avenues they’ve got through disability sport and through wheelchair basketball and the Roller Hawks we provide in the local area, that’s one of the big things for me.”

Dowler informed the team including the Roller Hawks Club President Geoff Adams at the back end of last season but insisted there be no fanfare.

“I’m very sorry to see Brendan finish up,” said Adams. “He’s been a tremendous influence on this club for a long time but we respect that he wants to take some time away.”

“In any event, he’s said he’s not finished for good and I’m sure we’ll still see plenty of him, in fact I’ll make sure of it.”

“I’ve learnt so much about the game from listening to him address the team at training or time outs, or even just chatting with him as he puts the team through their paces. I can only imagine the impact he’s had on the players,” said Adams.

Having flagged his departure last year, the Roller Hawks have already taken steps to fill the role in 2025, with a new look coaching line up set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.