Former Tall Black Dillon Boucher will step into the top job at Basketball New Zealand from next month.
Dillon Boucher is the new Basketball New Zealand chief executive. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Boucher has been appointed as chief executive to replace Iain Potter who was in the role for nine years.
Three years ago Boucher stepped off the court in the New Zealand National Basketball League, ending a playing career that began in 1994 and included stints in Australian NBL for the New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets and an eight-year international career for the Tall Blacks that included being part of the 2002 Tall Blacks team that finished fourth at the FIBA World Championships.
While Boucher kept playing into his 40s, he was also rising through the ranks off the court as a sport administrator.
He was commercial manager for the Breakers from 2014 to 2016, before being promoted to general manager from 2016 to 2019.
He also picked up governance experience on the boards of the New Zealand National Basketball League and Drug Free Sport New Zealand.
Dillon Boucher last played in the New Zealand National Basketball League in 2018. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Coming into the role with the national body, Boucher wanted to get the country unified behind basketball development.
"One of basketball's greatest attributes is its diversity, not only the mix of age, ethnicity and gender, but also the many organisations throughout New Zealand that support the game - we could achieve a great deal if we all worked together," he said.
"We also want to continue pushing the success of the exceptional growth in participation, the ongoing media and broadcast success that the sport has experienced, driving our high-performance success, and further developing commercial opportunities during what is a difficult time with the challenges of Covid-19."
Basketball New Zealand board chairman, Brian Yee, said Boucher's drive, experience and knowledge ticked all boxes for what is required to take over the demanding role.
"The appointment of Dillon is a fantastic result. His experience as an administrator, a professional basketball player, coach, plus his knowledge of community and high-performance basketball, means he has the essentials required to take the helm.
"He joins the organisation at a very exciting time. Internationally, it's the beginning of the Tall Blacks FIBA World Cup and Olympic cycle, the Tall Ferns are targeting the 2022 World Cup in Australia, and we feel confident the high-performance programme will get a boost thanks to the HPSNZ Aspiration Fund due to begin next year.
"At the community level, our Leagues are thriving, participation rates and climbing, and we have the Strengthen and Adapt Plan gaining momentum. Dillon's leadership during the next three years will be important to see ongoing success."
Boucher said he was thrilled to be offered the opportunity and was eager to continue on from the success established under Potter's watch.
Boucher steps into the role on 18 October.