Tim’s basketball journey spans both elite playing and coaching levels. He represented Otago at every age group and played for New Zealand at the Under-18 and Under-20 levels, with a career highlight of competing in the Sydney Youth Olympics. Tim also played in the NBL for the Otago Nuggets and Manawatu Jets and won two New Zealand CBL titles, with the North Otago Penguins (2000) and Wellington Saints (2008).

With over a decade of coaching experience, Tim has coached high school basketball, Wellington age-group rep teams, premier-grade basketball, and numerous youth basketball programs. As a coach, he focuses on creating a supportive culture where players feel encouraged to take risks, reinforcing that success isn’t just about results but about consistently making great decisions on and off the court.

What drives Tim as a coach is the pure passion kids bring to the game—seeing them sprint into training, eager to get a ball in their hands, and watching their excitement when teammates arrive. He loves the energy, enthusiasm, and love for the game that young players bring, even when parents are dragging them away to their next commitment.

Favorite Quote: "Focus on the success of making a good decision."

Elise is one of New Zealand’s rising basketball talents, balancing her playing career with her passion for coaching. She has been an Otago Representative since age 11, played for the New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns (2023/24), and made her debut for the Southern Hoiho in 2024 at just 18 years old. Elise joined Cross Over Basketball as a coach in 2024 and now leads our Girls Academy.

Still developing her coaching style, Elise believes in drawing things out and demonstrating skills to help players learn effectively. She enjoys watching young athletes improve and loves passing on the knowledge she’s gained throughout her own journey.

Her message to players? "Believe in yourself, put in the hard work, and never give up—because it pays off."

Matthew "Bards" Bardsley is a current Otago Nuggets player, known for his defensive intensity and work ethic. He first joined the Nuggets in 2020, helping them win the NBL Showdown championship, and later played a key role in their 2022 NBL title. In 2024, he was part of the Otago team that won the New Zealand Tupu League, and his City Rise Bombers team also claimed the Dunedin A Grade title the same year.

Passionate about basketball, Matthew is dedicated to improving his own game while supporting others on their journey to reach their full potential. As a trained teacher, he has experience working with a wide range of age groups, making him an effective and engaging coach.

Since joining Cross Over Basketball in 2023, Matthew has been an integral part of our coaching team, leading sessions in our Skills Programme, Under 15 Academy, and 3X3 Competition. As a defensive specialist, he helps players develop the mindset, techniques, and skills needed to excel on both ends of the court.

Dylan is a current NBL referee who began his basketball journey in high school, both as a player and an official. He first picked up the whistle out of necessity—someone had to referee so the games could happen—but it quickly turned into a passion.

Dylan emphasizes consistency and communication, believing that small interactions at the right moments can prevent escalations and create a better experience for everyone on the court. He enjoys having the best view of the game, continuously developing his own skills, and helping players perform at their best. Through his involvement in national tournaments, he has built strong connections with referees across the country.

His philosophy? "It’s not about perfection, it’s about consistency."

At Cross Over Basketball, Dylan leads the development of youth referees, mentoring the next generation to grow in confidence and ability while ensuring the game is played the right way.

With 23 years of professional experience, Mike is a highly respected Strength & Conditioning Coach, specialising in basketball performance. He has been the Otago Nuggets and Southern Hoiho Strength & Conditioning Coach since 2019 and joined Cross Over Basketball in 2023 to lead the Jump Programme.

Growing up in Otago, Mike played A-Grade basketball in Dunedin before shifting his focus to helping athletes develop strength, explosiveness, and injury resilience. A career highlight was being the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Nuggets' championship-winning teams in 2020 and 2022. His expertise also caught international attention, leading to him being head-hunted by the Perth Wildcats to serve as their Strength & Conditioning Coach for their USA tour, where they played pre-season games against NBA teams.

Mike is passionate about helping athletes reach their peak performance, whether through jump training, strength development, or overall athletic conditioning.

Danielle started playing basketball at 16 and went on to represent Manawatū at U18 before moving to Otago, where she played U20 and then for the Otago Goldrush from 2009 to 2018. Before Goldrush, she also played for Otago’s women’s teams, with breaks to raise her children. She was part of the championship-winning Goldrush teams in 2011 and 2018.

She has coached for over a decade, including Logan Park High School teams from 2011 to 2021/22, and joined Cross Over Basketball at the end of 2023 as Head Coach of the Under 11 Academy.

With a teaching background, Danielle’s coaching is structured, communicative, and development-focused. She emphasizes defence, a mindset instilled in her by coach John Paul (JP). She believes defensive effort is always controllable and creates scoring opportunities by dictating the game.

She loves watching players grow, sharing her knowledge, and seeing them succeed when they push past challenges.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." Originally from Wayne Gretzky, this quote stuck with Danielle because JP often reminded her of its importance—something she now passes on to her players.