One of Australia’s brightest young coaches has told how a career-ending cardiac arrest as a teenager changed his career.
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Shannon Seebohm was three games into his NBL stint with the South Dragons when he collapsed and his heart stopped at a training session.
A staff member worked on him until paramedics arrived, surgeons later inserting a cardiac defibrillator, leaving a 7.5cm scar.
The 19-year-old’s playing career was over.
“It was a really tough time to be honest because you go through life as a kid thinking you’ll be able to play basketball for a long time,” he said.
“So it was a bit of a shock and initially it took a long time to get over, but then I’ve been really fortunate I’ve found another passion in coaching and hopefully be able to do that for a long time.”
And he started in style too, guiding the Sydney Flames to the 2014-15 WNBL playoffs
He led the Flames for another season, but then joined Basketball NSW.
And he’s returned to familiar territory on the Border for the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup.
The 28-year-old, the second cousin of national swim star Emily Seebohm, contested five successive campaigns from 2001.
“It certainly opened a lot of doors as a player, which then put me in good contact with a lot of great coaches,” he said.
“Then when I decided to get into coaching, I had a good network of coaches that had supported me and I guess helped me through my development as a coach, so I guess a lot of that started at the Country Cup.”
Seebohm’s current role involves player and coaching development.
He also led the Australian Sapphires to last year’s world under 17 title, toppling the US for the first time at that level during the tournament.
A member of the historic squad – Jazmin Shelley – is playing in the Victorian under 18 team.
“She’s probably a player I’d imagine will get a chance to play for Australia at the senior level one day,” he said.
“I’m sure for a lot of the kids here, it’s something they’ll be able to tell their kids about when they play against her, and how good she is.”
One of the WNBL’s youngest coaches at just 26, Seebohm doesn’t lack drive.
“I’d love a chance to coach the senior national team and get a chance to go to the Olympics,” he said.
“That was always a goal of mine as a player and obviously that goal’s done, so hopefully one day as a coach I might get the chance to do that.”
So is he a better player or coach?
“I’m not sure, hopefully be a better coach than I was a player.”