MEDIA RELEASE: Torns Appoint Zoe Mesman as Head Coach for 2025
The Launceston Tornadoes are elated to announce the appointment of Zoe Mesman (nee Mitchell) as their new Head Coach for the 2025 NBL1 season.
A proud Launcestonian and former Tornadoes captain, Mesman’s journey with the Club began as a junior development player in about 2004. From there Mesman went on to frequent the team list across a total of seven seasons, including appearing in two grand finals and leading the team as captain in 2012.
Mesman’s appointment as Head Coach reflects her positive contributions to basketball both locally and across Tasmania. She has been actively involved with South East Launceston Devils Basketball and contributed more broadly to the development of players at various levels. Having coached junior and school teams, Senior men’s teams, and with her recent appointment as Development Coach of the State U/20 females, Mesman is expected to come in and hit the ground running.
Her employment will formally commence with the Club in January 2025. As to her recent appointment, Mesman noted: “It’s an honour to be appointed as the new Head Coach of the Torns’ program. I was once a U/10 girl sitting in the stands holding up signs for my favourite player in Sallee Hardman. I’ve also observed my mother coach the Torns over the years. So, I’m excited to use my passion for this Club and our community to build an environment which allows all athletes to thrive and is competitive on game nights”. Mesman then added: “I’ve followed the core group of players in the club’s program over the past few years. They have really been putting their skills on show and I’m looking forward to working with these athletes to increase their presence in the league and challenge them to be the best version of themselves on court. I’m also looking forward to welcoming back past and new players to the program”.
The Club has full confidence in Zoe’s suitability for the role and her ability to deliver a strong, intense, and successful program next year, including with the support of those presently involved with the Club and others she may bring along with her. Acting Chairperson, Lauren Faulkner, who played with Mesman under her captaincy, said: “Zoe is a proven leader. She also knows what it means to be a Tornado. She has an intimate understanding of how our program came to be and why it is so important that women continue to have a genuine pathway for their sporting careers at this level and into the future. This was readily apparent to me during the Club’s recruitment process based on Zoe’s line of questioning and the ideas she was raising as future possibilities”.
The news of Mesman’s appointment comes after the Club undertook a thorough recruitment process spanning almost 6 weeks, which included the appointment of an external interview panel and extensive reference checking. In speaking to the Board of Directors confidence with the resulting outcome of that process, Faulkner mentioned: “Our Club’s ethos is centered around supporting females in sport, including giving opportunities like this to females outside of being players. On a personal level it has been a privilege for me to be able to offer this role to Zoe on behalf of our Board – a full-circle moment”.
The Club extends its thanks to all candidates who took the time to submit expressions of interest and engage with the interview process.