The Brisbane Bullets have hired Justin Schueller to fill their vacant head coach position, sources told ESPN.
Schueller was previously an assistant coach with Melbourne United under Dean Vickerman, holding that position since 2018. This will be his first head coaching position in the NBL.
Widely regarded as one of Australia's most respected young coaches, Schueller has been part of Basketball Australia's junior national programs for more than a decade, serving as both an assistant and head coach for the country's under-17 team.
The Bullets' decision comes after a tumultuous 2022-23 campaign. James Duncan began that season as head coach, but lasted just nine games before he was fired. Sam Mackinnon, the team's General Manager, then took over as interim coach, before Greg Vanderjagt held the role for the remainder of the season.
Vanderjagt was among the three names on the Bullets' final shortlist, sources said, along with current Perth Wildcats assistant and one-time NBL Coach of the Year, Mike Kelly.
The Bullets' search for a new head coach was led by the franchise's new Senior Basketball Advisor, Stu Lash, sources said.
During the search process, an exploratory call was placed to Trevor Gleeson, sources said, with the former Wildcats head coach -- currently an assistant with the Toronto Raptors -- expressing interest in a return to the NBL. Gleeson's talks with the Bullets never reached an advanced stage, sources said.
The Bullets ended their 2022-23 season with an 8-20 record. Only two players, Aron Baynes and Nathan Sobey, are currently contracted for the 2023-24 season.