Basketball Hawthorn congratulates Director Matt Scriven on the announcement today of his appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Basketball Australia.
Matt has lent his significant professional expertise and basketball knowledge to Basketball Hawthorn, and the Association’s representative programs in particular, over the past five years.
He has been a member of the Hawthorn Magic Representative Committee since 2016, and has served as its Chair and a Basketball Hawthorn Board Director since October 2019. In that time, he has been instrumental in raising the calibre and profile of Hawthorn Magic.
As a result of his appointment, Matt will step down from his positions within Hawthorn Magic and Basketball Hawthorn immediately to take up the new role from July 5.
Matt said he would leave Basketball Hawthorn sound in the knowledge it was well poised for continued high-level success.
“I have cherished my time at Basketball Hawthorn,” he said.
“Hawthorn Magic has become a destination club, to the envy of many, and the Representative Program is well placed to maintain its momentum of success.
“The Club is filled with exceptional administrators, coaches and players. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented people at Basketball Hawthorn and I’m certain the program will continue to provide strong pathways from grassroots basketball to high-performance programs.”
In addition to his role as Magic Chair, Matt has also coached Hawthorn Magic and State Development teams over the past few years and remains a parent in the Hawthorn Magic program.
Basketball Hawthorn Chair Gen Brammall said Matt had worked tirelessly during his time as Chair of Hawthorn Magic to support the program’s staff, coaches, parents and players.
“Matt combines his passion for basketball with a measured and inclusive leadership style,” she said.
“His progressive and pro-active approach has seen the Hawthorn Magic program go from strength to strength during his time at the helm. Our loss is certainly Basketball Australia’s gain.”
Matt has instigated the development of two exciting new initiatives, a Basketball Hawthorn Female Coaching Academy which will launch shortly, and a Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to assist Basketball Hawthorn to maintain a safe, supportive and inclusive space to play basketball.
Matt has also been integral in helping to create an effective coach and player framework at Hawthorn Magic resulting in great success at the Club level; particularly with successive Under 14 teams achieving a qualification in the Australian National Championships.
The Hawthorn Magic Under 14 Girls Team were crowned National Champions in 2019 and Under 14 Boys were Runners Up. Last year’s teams were poised for similar success until the event was cancelled due to Covid. And this year, the Club’s Under 14 Girls and Boys teams will again compete at the Australian National Titles to be hosted by the Casey Basketball Association in September 2021.
The Basketball Hawthorn Board and staff thanked Matt for his incredible contribution and wished him all the very best in his role heading up Basketball Australia.
The Board will announce an interim Chair of the Representative Committee shortly.
