Lopez Takes Hawks Reins in New-Era Move

A new era is taking shape for the Big Barrel Hawks.

The club has appointed Will Lopez as Head Coach for the 2026 Sal’s NBL season, signalling a clear intent to lift performance standards, sharpen the team’s competitive edge and put Hawke’s Bay basketball back in the hunt for a title.

Lopez arrives with a strong record across Australia’s elite basketball system, known for building tough, disciplined and highly prepared teams. He is currently Lead Assistant Coach with the Cairns Taipans in the Australian NBL, working under former Hawks head coach and 2023 NBL Coach of the Year Adam Forde. His portfolio includes game strategy, scouting, in-game adjustments and managing the performance areas that drive results.

While assistant coach with the Taipans, Lopez coached the Cairns Dolphins in NBL1 North, delivering a fast, physical and winning style of basketball. Earlier in New South Wales he held senior roles with the Bankstown Bruins, including Director of Coaching, where he oversaw a player-development system that supported hundreds of athletes and helped dozens of coaches earn national accreditation. He also served as High Performance Coach for Basketball NSW, responsible for elite player and coach development statewide.

Hawks General Manager Jarrod Kenny says Lopez is the right leader at the right time.
“Will is a passionate, highly experienced coach who knows how to build a winning environment. He’s proven at every level of the sport. His standards, his professionalism and his defensive mindset align with exactly where we want to go as a club.”

Lopez says the job is simple: raise expectations and deliver results for Hawke’s Bay.
“My focus is on winning and building a team our community can be proud of. The Hawks have talent, history and passionate supporters. We’ll set a standard that reflects that. We’ll defend with intensity, play unselfishly and compete for the full 40 minutes.”

Lopez will begin working immediately on roster construction, performance planning and pre-season structures. He will relocate to Hawke’s Bay following the conclusion of the Australian NBL season.

Farewell and Thanks to Coach Sam Gruggen

The Big Barrel Hawks also acknowledge outgoing Head Coach Sam Gruggen, who completes his tenure after two seasons. Gruggen brought professionalism and commitment to the role, helped stabilise the programme and made significant progress developing young local talent into genuine national-league contributors. The club extends sincere thanks and wishes him the very best for his next chapter.

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