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Fleur McIntyre

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Fleur McIntyre
McIntyre with the Cockburn Cougars in 2014
Phoenix Mercury
PositionAssistant general manager
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1979-10-24) 24 October 1979 (age 45)
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia
Listed height176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Career information
High schoolJohn Paul College
(Kalgoorlie, Western Australia)
Playing career1995–2014
PositionForward
Coaching career2005–present
Career history
As player:
1995–2003;
2005–2006;
2008;
2011;
2013–2014		Cockburn Cougars
As coach:
2005–2007Perth Lynx (assistant)
2010–2011Cockburn Cougars
2014; 2020Cockburn Cougars (assistant)
2021–2024Sydney Kings (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Fleur McIntyre (born 24 October 1979) is an Australian basketball coach and former player who is currently an assistant general manager of the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played 15 seasons in the State Basketball League (SBL) for the Cockburn Cougars, where towards the end of her playing career she began coaching as well, serving as head coach of the Cougars women's team in 2010 and 2011. In 2021, she joined the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL) as an assistant coach, where she won two NBL championships in 2022 and 2023.

Early life

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McIntyre was born and raised in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.[1] Her father was a mining engineer and she subsequently lived in a number of small mining towns in Western Australia.[1] She grew up playing multiple sports in a sporting family, with her parents active in sport, as were her two brothers and one sister.[1]

McIntyre attended Kalgoorlie Catholic Primary School and John Paul College and played in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Basketball Association for Christian Brothers College (CBC) Basketball Club. She finished Year 10 at John Paul College before her family moved to Perth in 1995.[2]

McIntyre served as Under 18 and Under 20 state basketball captain for Western Australia Metro.[3]

Playing career

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McIntyre with the Cougars in 2003

McIntyre pursued State Basketball League (SBL) opportunities with the Willetton Tigers but eventually joined the Cockburn Cougars, where she was the club's 1995 rookie of the year.[2] She was initially listed as their No. 10 player but was eventually rewarded with a place in the starting five and by 1999, was captaining the team.[4] She endured a couple of knee surgeries early in her career.[5]

McIntyre played for the Cougars every year between 1995 and 2003,[6] which was followed by stints in 2005, 2006, 2008,[7] 2011[8] and 2013.[9] Injury limited her[10] to one final game for the Cougars in 2014,[11] as she finished her SBL career with 270 games.[12] She earned life membership with the Cougars and won the club's MVP award five times.[12]

Coaching career

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Perth Lynx

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McIntyre served as an assistant coach to the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) under head coach Paul O'Brien.[13] O'Brien was coach of the Lynx in 2005–06 and 2006–07.[14]

Cockburn Cougars

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In October 2009, McIntyre was appointed head coach of the Cockburn Cougars women's team for the 2010 WSBL season.[13] She led the team to tenth place with a 6–16 record[15] and was subsequently re-appointed as head coach for the 2011 season.[16] She served as player-coach in 2011, which she later described as the "worst decision" and that she was "horrible at it".[17][18] The team made a quick start to the season before finishing seventh with 11 wins and losing to the Perry Lakes Hawks in the quarter-finals.[15] She stepped down as coach in September 2011.[19]

McIntyre re-joined the Cougars women's team as assistant coach under head coach Deanna Smith for the 2014 season.[20] In September 2014, she coached the WSBL All-Stars in an exhibition match against the West Coast Waves.[21]

In 2020, McIntyre served as assistant coach for the Cougars men's team under head coach Andrew Cooper during the West Coast Classic.[22][23]

Sydney Kings

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On 15 July 2021, McIntyre was appointed an assistant coach of the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL) under new head coach Chase Buford.[24][25] Desiring a career change after more than a decade pursuing an academic career, McIntyre received a call from former NBA player and long-time friend Luc Longley who encouraged her to apply for the assistant coach role at the Kings.[26][27][28] The Kings were interested in her professional background and her focus on connecting with people and building relationships.[29] She was tasked with serving a key role in player development[29] and Buford later referred to McIntyre as the "glue" of the club.[30] McIntyre became the fifth female to be hired in the NBL coaching ranks behind Michele Timms, Lori Chizik, Tracy York and Chanel Pompallier.[29]

McIntyre helped guide the Kings to the NBL Grand Final in the 2021–22 season,[26] where they defeated the Tasmania JackJumpers 3–0 in the best-of-five series. She became the first woman to win an NBL championship.[31] She made a big impression in her first season at the Kings, winning the Club Person of the Year.[32]

McIntyre was given the opportunity to be the Kings' head coach during the first game of the 2022 NBL Blitz pre-season tournament,[5] becoming the first female to do so.[33] As assistant coach, she helped the Kings return to the NBL Grand Final in the 2023–23 season,[32] where they defeated the New Zealand Breakers 3–2 to win back-to-back championships.[34]

Following the departure of Chase Buford at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, McIntyre was touted as a possible candidate to replace him as head coach.[5] She ultimately continued on as an assistant coach under new head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah,[35] extending her contract with the Kings for a further two seasons.[36]

In July 2023, McIntyre worked as a guest coach with the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. She was invited by long-time Spurs executive, R. C. Buford, the father of Chase Buford. She served under former NBL player and coach, Matthew Nielsen.[36]

After winning seven of their first 10 games of the 2023–24 NBL season, the Kings lost 13 of their remaining 19 matches, including the play-in qualifier defeat to the New Zealand Breakers.[37]

Executive career

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In January 2024, McIntyre was appointed an assistant general manager of the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[38][39][40] She commenced her position in April following the conclusion of the 2023–24 NBL season.[41][42]

Personal life

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McIntyre's father, Colin, is considered one of the best footballers the Goldfields region has produced. He won the Mitchell Medal as the Goldfields Football League's (GFL) fairest and best player in 1979 while playing for Kambalda, and in 1993 was named captain of a special GFL All-Stars team.[4] Her brother, Sheldon, also played for the Cockburn Cougars in the SBL and also earned life membership.[12][43] As of January 2024, she had a brother who lived on the east coast of the United States.[41]

McIntyre's personal resume includes a Bachelor of Science (hons), Graduate Certificate in Research Methods and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).[3] In 2021, she left her job of 16 years at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle,[29] where she was Discipline Head of Exercise and Sports Science.[25] At the time, she was finishing her PhD and had been promoted to associate professor.[29] She lectured in gender and sport.[29][25]

McIntyre served on the SBL Commission between 2014 and 2018.[3][44] Up until 2021, she had worked with Basketball Western Australia's high performance programs and coached several state teams.[29]

McIntyre is a close friend with former Perth Wildcats player, Greg Hire. She served as a director for his charity, A Stitch in Time, and was the master of ceremonies at his wedding.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "#144: Journey to Sydney Kings first female Assistant Coach with Fleur McIntyre (4:52)". YouTube. SportsGrad. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Harvey, Neale (25 January 2024). "Trailblazing former Goldfields basketballer Fleur McIntyre headed to WNBA in US". Kalgoorlie Miner. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Fleur McIntyre joins SBL Commission". SBL.asn.au. 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Harvey, Neale (17 July 2021). "NBL lures McIntyre". Kalgoorlie Miner. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Hodges, Rani (20 May 2023). "McIntyre to Create Further NBL History?". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ "STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE WOMEN PLAYER REGISTER". Basketball Western Australia. 2 September 2003. Archived from the original on 18 July 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Fleur McIntyre". Australiabasket.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Player statistics for Fleur McIntyre – 2011". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Player statistics for Fleur McIntyre – 2013". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Doccy' finding her feet as a coach at Cockburn". SBL.asn.au. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. The rookie coach is confident her team can be a contender this year even with Fleur McIntyre currently injured...
  11. ^ "Player statistics for Fleur McIntyre – 2014". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Fleur McIntyre – 50 Years of the Cougar Family". cougarfamily.com. 24 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Cougars appoint McIntyre for 2010 Womens Team". SBL.asn.au. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  14. ^ "YEAR BY YEAR". wnbl.basketball/perth. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b Kagi, Jacob (29 February 2012). "Season Preview - Cockburn Cougars". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Cougars announce 2011 Coaches". SBL.asn.au. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  17. ^ "#144: Journey to Sydney Kings first female Assistant Coach with Fleur McIntyre (38:08)". YouTube. SportsGrad. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Fleur McIntyre Coaching Mentoring". YouTube. She Hoops. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Cockburn Seeks Expression of Interest For WSBL Head Coach". SBL.asn.au. 14 September 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  20. ^ "2014 SBL Media Guide". SBL.asn.au. p. 6. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  21. ^ "WSBL All-Stars". SBL.asn.au. 10 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024.
  22. ^ Garlepp, Josh (13 August 2020). "West Coast Classic: Wildcats, returning European stars and hidden gems, who to keep an eye on in the WCC". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  23. ^ "IT'S TIME FOR US TO BACK IN FEMALE COACHES – CJ JACKSON". SBL.asn.au. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Kings announce coaching staff ahead of NBL22". SydneyKings.com. 15 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  25. ^ a b c O'Donoghue, Craig (16 July 2021). "Cockburn Cougars legend Fleur McIntyre joins Sydney Kings as assistant coach for upcoming season". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b "How a call from Aussie NBA legend set Kings assistant McIntyre on path to NBL grand final". SBS.com.au. 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  27. ^ Sims, Kristin (24 September 2022). "The Queen in the Kingdom: Fleur McIntyre on her Championship winning year with the Sydney Kings". theinnersanctum.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  28. ^ Harvey, Neale (22 July 2021). "From CBC to Sydney Kings an academic advancement for Goldfields basketballer McIntyre". Kalgoorlie Miner. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h Hersz, Tom (23 July 2021). "Fleur McIntyre and the Human Side of Coaching". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  30. ^ "The "Glue" That Keeps the Kings Together". NBL.com.au. 8 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  31. ^ Harvey, Neale (14 May 2022). "Fleur McIntyre makes history in Sydney Kings NBL championship success". Kalgoorlie Miner. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  32. ^ a b O'Donoghue, Craig (8 March 2023). "Dribble Podcast: Sydney Kings assistant coach and former Cockburn Cougar Fleur McIntyre is a woman in demand". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  33. ^ Hustwaite, Megan (8 March 2023). "Longevity now the focus for women's NBL coaching trailblazers". ESPN.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Kings' Big Finish to Secure Back-to-Back Championships". NBL.com.au. 15 March 2023. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  35. ^ "McIntyre praises Kings new head coach Abdelfattah". SydneyKings.com. 1 August 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  36. ^ a b Pitman, Kane (12 July 2023). "Fleur McIntyre absorbing everything with the Spurs during 'Wemby-mania'". ESPN.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  37. ^ "Kings part ways with Abdelfattah". NBL.com.au. 1 March 2024. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024.
  38. ^ Cipollini, Alec (24 January 2024). "Phoenix Mercury name Fleur McIntyre assistant GM". Yardbarker. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  39. ^ "McIntyre accepts WNBA role". NBL.com.au. 24 January 2024. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024.
  40. ^ Woods, Dan (30 January 2024). "The Queen of Kings takes next leap forward". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024.
  41. ^ a b Harvey, Neale (30 January 2024). "McIntyre ready to make more history in WNBA". Kalgoorlie Miner. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  42. ^ Harvey, Neale (29 June 2024). "McIntyre feeling right at home in new role with WNBA team Phoenix Mercury". Kalgoorlie Miner. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024.
  43. ^ "Cougars life member McIntyre in sight of fairytale finish". SBL.asn.au. 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024.
  44. ^ "THANK YOU FLEUR!". SBL.asn.au. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024.
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