Shepparton Gators youth coach John Wood has spoke glowingly about the efforts of his team under his guidance - after a strong start to the VJBL2 season despite gruelling 400km round trips on away days.
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The 58-year-old has a storied history as one of Victoria’s true unsung sporting heroes, having committed years to the cause of helping the region’s young people to get involved in basketball.
Previously, he made his name coaching in Dandenong, Knox, Hawthorn and at state level, garnering a reputation as an accomplished mentor for junior players across Victoria.
Wood moved to Shepparton from in 2024 from Monbulk following a change in his work arrangements.
Alongside working in the car repairs industry, he gives much of his spare time to helping youngsters reach their potential on the court alongside assistant coach Janayah and team manager Annie.
Taking charge of the Shepparton Gators under-14s girls team ahead of the current season, he has made a significant impact on its fortunes.
“I’ve coached girls basketball at all sorts of levels but do seem to gravitate towards the under-14s age group,” he said.
“It is a really good group at that age and they are always willing to learn.
“This season I’ve been fortunate enough to be made head coach, having spent a little bit of time with them at the end of the 2025 season.
“We held try-outs and put a team together. We added in some new faces and three bottom age girls, then set about the process of qualifying and grading for Victorian and Junior Basketball League.”
Wood also explained that a key motivation was for him is bridging the gap between what is available to youngsters in metropolitan cities when compared with regional areas.
“The program needs a little bit of help so when a coach from the city turns up, you tend to have some decent experiences that you can share with the kids.”
“It is difficult for country kids to get the exposure so that what I’m trying to do.
“Obviously, Shepparton is a long way from the city and, having coached in the Metro system in the city for years, I’ve come here and thought ‘why should these kids be disadvantaged?’
Since starting grading, the Gators started at the bottom of pool four of the map - ranked around 60th in Victoria.
Under Wood’s leadership, the talented group has soon rallied its way up to 41st in the state.
They were graded in VJBL2, having been at the bottom of pool five last year. In the last 11 games, the Shepp upstarts have lost on just a single occasion.
This blotch on their otherwise unblemished record came on the Gators’ first outing during grading but the response to this defeat has been emphatic.
Uniting the locker room, the result eventually provided a springboard for the team to record a convincing 20-point victory on March 6 in the form of a 42-22 win in the VJBL2 season opener versus Coburg.
“So, we’ve actually done really well to get where we are,” the coach said, as he beamed with pride following a victory that put them top of the standings at this early stage in the campaign.
Wood’s excitement about the potential of this young team was palpable as he looked ahead to the rest of the season.
“One of the girls is a top age girl of 12 or 13 who is already six foot or more,” he said.
“She’s already on the Victorian pathway and she’s definitely one to look out for.
“When it comes to the whole team, I’ve got three bottom age kids who I can start or sub in at any point and the game doesn’t change.
“They can hold their own and they are very good. We have a very structured offence and, for me, coaching junior girls basketball is about the life lessons.
“Win or lose, it’s about what the girls get out of it. I’ve always promoted professionalism with this team.”
Wood has also revitalised the team’s set-up away from the court, setting up a crucial sponsorship deal with his own employers which ensured that the Gators under-14s can play at the highest level possible against the best performers in Victoria.
“We need to be playing against the good city teams to get better which is why the focus was on making it as high up as we could,” he said.
“My goal was VJBL3, so they’ve already over-achieved and exceeded what I expected.
“Travelling to the city is expensive for the parents, they pay a lot of money for their kids to play a season of basketball. They have to buy shoes, bags, uniform etc.
“I approached Goodfellows Car and Truck Rentals here in Shepp and asked if there was some kind of deal we could do.”
In a show of community spirit, the firm quickly responded to Wood’s request, promising a 22-seater bus half-price for any Friday night, ahead of games in Melbourne.
From there, Woods’ boss at Shepparton’s Southern Rod and Custom stepped up to cover the costs of the bus, meaning that the players would be able to essentially travel to away fixtures free of charge, apart from fuel costs.
“Things like this are not possible without a good crew around you and I’ve never had a parent group as good as this and I’ve coached many teams,” he said.
“It is the best team of athletes I’ve coached in terms of wanting to learn which is proven by where we’ve ended up.”
Looking to extend their flawless record in VJBL2 so far, the Gators will host the Knox Raiders at Court 1 at Visy Community Centre in Shepparton on March 13.