Ben Ettridge

Playing career

Ettridge competed in the State Basketball League between 1993 and 2004, playing for the Cockburn Cougars (1993–1994), Willetton Tigers (1995–1996), Mandurah Magic (1997–1999; 2002–2004) and Perth Redbacks (2001).

National Wheelchair Basketball Teams

Ettridge has served in a variety of men and women's coaching positions for Australia's national wheelchair basketball program. He served as the head coach of the Australian men's Under 23 team, an assistant with the women's national senior team and as head coach of the men's senior team. He became the head coach of the men's senior team in 2007 and guided them to gold at the Arafura Games. From 2007, the Rollers won 5 consecutive AOZ Championships, compiling a 45 wins and no loss record.

Paralympics

Ettridge coached the gold medal winning Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.. The tournament began with a thrilling last second come from behind win against Brazil, with Captain Brad Ness scoring on an assist from Justin Eveson with 0.3 seconds on the clock, to give the Aussies their first lead, and winning margin of 1 point.

2008 Beijing Gold Medal, 2012 London Silver Medal, 2016 Rio 6th place. 18 wins, 6 losses across 3 Paralympics.

World Cups

Ettridge is the only back to back winning Australian Coach at World Championships. In 2010 WC in Birmingham, the Rollers went undefeated, including a second half 19 point comeback win against the USA in the semi finals. In 2014, the Rollers completed a similar feat, turning a massive deficit against Turkey at halftime, down 18, into a 5 point victory. They then destroyed the host nation Korea in the semis and once again prevailed over the USA in the gold medal match.

2010 Birmingham Gold Medal, 2014 Incheon Gold Medal. 15 wins and 1 loss across 2 World Cups.

National Wheelchair Basketball League

In 2004, Ettridge became the head coach of the National Wheelchair Basketball League's Perth Wheelcats. His father, Len Ettridge, served as the team's assistant coach. In his second year as head coach, he took the team to the NWBL's championship final where they lost to the West Sydney Razorbacks. In 2006, the Wheelcats lost only one game all season before going on to win the league championship. In 2007, he guided the Wheelcats to back-to-back championships. He then coached the Wheelcats to victory at the World Champions Cup, in a tournament where they did not lose a single game. In 2008, he was again the Wheelcats coach and the team lost only one game during the regular season before winning the NWBL's championship once again. In 2009 the Wheelcats ran the table again, defeating the Sydney Wheelkings to secure the fourth consecutive NWBL championship for the club. In 2010, he left his coaching job with the Wheelcats to focus on the Rollers World Cup Campaign, a move that proved to be highly successful. His record during his time as a NWBL Head coach is 118 wins and 11 losses.

State Basketball League

In 2011, Ettridge became the head coach of the SBL's Wanneroo Wolves and went on to guide them to their first championship win since 1993. He departed the Wolves head coaching position due to work commitments in Sydney following the 2012 season, the Wolves pacing the league with a 23 and 3 record, falling in the semi finals. .

In September 2014, Ettridge was reappointed as the Wolves' head coach for the 2015 season. On 11 May 2015, he was named the North Men's All-Star coach for the 2015 SBL All-Star Game. On 29 August 2015, he guided the Wolves to a 105–75 grand final win over the South West Slammers to reclaim the SBL championship.. The Wolves returned to the Championship game in 2016, only to be defeated by the Cockburn Cougars. In August 2017, Ettridge re-signed with the Joondalup Wolfpack for a further 2 years, making him the longest tenured head coach in the programs history, and one of the longest serving current head coaches in the SBL.

Recognition

In 2009, the Australian Paralympic Committee named him as one of their finalists for their Coach of the Year award. While coaching the Wheelcats, he was named the NWBL Coach of the Year three times. He is also a five-time Wheelchair Sports WA Coach of the Year. In November 2014, he was awarded the Australian College of Physical Education Coach of the Year at the New South Wales Institute of Sport awards.

Personal

Ettridge is the son of former Paralympian Len Ettridge.