Robert Young

Bob Young started to play basketball at the Brisbane YMCA and Legacy Club in 1948 as a 14-year-old. He would go on to be one of the most influential figures in basketball in Queensland. In 1951 Bob began playing basketball in Brisbane D grade for Postels and in 1959 he was Player-Coach Brisbane for Pacers in “C” Grade.

Between 1961 and 1996 Bob was Manager and Coach of many, many Brisbane / Metropolitan Zone under age and men’s basketball teams. Bob’s teams were always highly competitive and he was successful in winning many state championships. During these years Bob was also a successful coach of many Queensland State under age and men’s teams with his Queensland team winning the Australian under 18 championships in 1988.

With others, in 1962 Bob Young formed the Lang Park Basketball Club as part of the Lang Park Police Club, becoming the inaugural secretary/treasurer, a position he held for many years, as well as coaching many teams, and a member of various committees to 2015. During his many years with Lang Park Basketball Club Bob coached countless teams over many, many years. For his enormous contribution to the Club and its members, in 1994 he was awarded Diamond Life Membership of QPCYWA.

Bob was heavily involved in the decision to enter the Brisbane Bullets in the national Basketball League in its inaugural year. He was the Bullets first coach in the League’s inaugural year, 1979, coaching the team to fifth position. Between 1994 and 1999, Bob was Basketball Queensland Coaching Director, a full time position during which Bob developed much of the coaching curriculum material and coach development material that had an impact on the standards of basketball coaching throughout the state.

As noted in the introduction to this submission, Bob Young’s participation in sport went well beyond his role as a coach. Included in his administrative and other roles have been:

• Secretary Brisbane Basketball in 1965 and in 1969 – 1970
• Secretary Basketball Queensland. from 1961 – 1977
• Vice President Brisbane Basketball from 1963 – 1964
• Junior Secretary Basketball Australia Junior from 1977 – 1983
• Basketball Australia Junior Commissioner from 1983 – 1992
• Head of Delegation Australian Junior Men’s team to World Championships in Italy and Canada,  and respective related tours from 1987 – 1991

In recognition of his outstanding service to basketball Bob has received a number of awards including:

• Life member of Brisbane Basketball in 1973
• Life member of Basketball Queensland in1979
• Medal of the Order of Australia( OAM) for services to basketball in 1989
• The Australian Sports Medal in 2000
• In 2004, Basketball Australia named the perpetual trophy for the Australian under 16 years  Men’s Championships “The Robert Young Shield”.• In 2006, Bob was presented with the Basketball Australia Life Time Achievement Award (since incorporated into BA Hall of Fame)