Judd Flavell Appointed Tall Blacks Head Coach; Staying with Canterbury Rams

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand. – Judd Flavell, Canterbury Rams Head Coach of three seasons, has been appointed the Head Coach of the Tall Blacks – New Zealand’s national men’s basketball team.

The Rams organisation prides itself on being a development club, so the nomination of Flavell to lead the national programme is an outcome met with celebration.

“Firstly, it’s an incredible honour to be appointed as Head Coach of the Tall Blacks,” said Flavell. “This is a role I’m incredibly passionate about, and I fully recognise the opportunity and responsibility that comes with it. I’m excited to work alongside our talented Kiwi players and staff, and I’m committed to pushing new boundaries, both here in Aotearoa and on the international stage.”

Flavell will continue to be involved with the Rams coaching staff and will assume a hands-on role with the players, continuing as the High Performance Director for the Canterbury Rams, Mainland Pouākai, and Mainland Eagles Academy for the next two years.

“We are very proud of Judd and his appointment with the Tall Blacks,” stated Rams General Manager Caleb Harrison. “He will do an outstanding job with our national programme. We are looking forward to having him continue to lead our programmes for the next two years and being based in Christchurch for the Rams season.”

While Flavell will remain to be an integral part of the Canterbury Rams. and will be Christchurch-based for the majority of the season, his Tall Blacks responsibilities will ultimately be his priority and he will have to miss portions of the Sal’s NBL season.

It has been known and anticipated organisationally that Flavell would obtain the opportunity to pursue a high-level coaching position as such, so preparing a robust succession plan has been of paramount importance.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Sal’s NBL season, Assistant Coach Quinn Clinton will be promoted to the position of Head Coach for the Canterbury Rams, with Liam Connelly continuing to support him as an Assistant.

“Caleb and I over the past couple years had discussed succession planning, and we prioritised the development of a New Zealand coach who could take over when the time was right,” Flavell affirmed. “Quinn is that coach, a bright, young leader with a great future ahead. His contributions, both as a player and assistant, have been vital to our recent championships and the culture we’ve built. He’s hardworking, dedicated, and I have full confidence that he will thrive as the Rams’ Head Coach.”

Clinton, a former Rams player and junior Tall Black representative, retired from playing following the teams’ 2023 Grand Final victory, officially joining the coaching staff for the 2024 Sal’s NBL season. Clinton has excellent familiarity with high performance environments from his playing career, having played division-1 basketball at St. Mary’s and been involved with the New Zealand Breakers organisation. Connelly, a Rams assistant coach since 2022, also boasts a continually improving resume, and is set to be the Head Coach of the U15 Junior Tall Ferns for the current U17 Women’s National Team cycle.

Flavell’s extended involvement with the Rams gives the franchise an opportunity to build consistency and sustainable success in their coaching staff. The Rams are not only excited for Flavell, but also for the opportunity of two of New Zealand’s most promising coaches – Clinton and Connelly – to take on further responsibility as they continue developing under the mentorship of Flavell.

“We have worked hard together with Judd the past three seasons in preparing both Quinn and Liam, and we believe they are both ready for bigger roles. With Judd working alongside them the entire way, it gives our organisation the unique opportunity of building long term sustainable success,” added Harrison.

“I want to acknowledge my Rams players and staff, who have been in the trenches with me week in and week out,” Flavell further stated. “Together, we’ve accomplished some incredible things, and I’m immensely proud of the progress the entire organisation has made.”

“I want to personally thank the Harrisons for bringing me and my family back to New Zealand from Australia to be a part of the Rams family, and entrusting me the opportunity to grow and expand myself in Canterbury, a region with such a deep history and love for basketball.”

“This journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and I’m excited to get to work with the 2025 Canterbury Rams team.”