Craig Simpson Joins Phoenix

The South East Melbourne Phoenix have signed Craig Simpson as an assistant coach for the NBL23 season.

Simpson joins the Phoenix on a one-year deal, having most recently coached in the CBA as foreign Head Coach at the ShanXi Dragons .

Simpson is a product of the Heartland, growing up in Frankston and playing and coaching at Frankston, Knox, and Nunawading in the SEABL. He was also an NBL assistant at the South Dragons when they won the NBL championship in 2008-09.

(Simpson joins Phoenix after recently coaching in China.)

"Having spent the last decade overseas coaching professionally, I am thankful for the opportunity and thrilled to join the South East Melbourne Phoenix family. Growing up in Frankston and having played and coached senior representative basketball for the Blues, Raiders, and Spectres, to be back in this basketball region and around family and friends is exciting, and I look forward to getting to work," Simpson said.

Simpson was the SEABL coach of the year in 2009/10 as head coach for the Nunawading Spectres; he spent the last 10 years coaching in China and from 2018-20 was the foreign Head Coach at the ShanXi Dragons in the CBA .

"I'm looking forward to working alongside Craig. It's great to have another product of the Heartland join our staff who has extensive coaching experience both in Australia and overseas. Craig's work ethic and keen attention to detail will assist our continued development as a club," Head Coach Simon Mitchell said.

(Simpson is from the Heartland and is excited to be back home and joining the Phoenix for NBL23.)

Craig Simpson's  Coaching Resume

2008/2009 Assistant Coach South Dragons NBL - Championship winners 2008/2009 season
2009/10 Head Coach Nunawading Spectres SEABL - 2010 SEABL coach of the year award
10 years coaching professionally in China.
2011/13 Head Coach Dongguan Leopards CBA Development Team
2013/15 Associate Head Coach Under 17 Men's National Team - Bronze Medal in Asian Championship in Indonesia.
2016/18 - Foreign Head Coach Shenzhen Leopards CBA 
2018/20 Foreign Head Coach ShanXi Dragons CBA

Phoenix Media (1/6/22)