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The appointments give Parham-Ammar a coaching team with complementary strengths and a shared approach while connect the club's WNBL program directly with the Lightning Academy and South Australian pathway. Crouch is a South Australian coach who took charge as interim Head Coach last season, and Treloar is the current South Australian U20 Women's Head Coach.
Adelaide Lightning General Manager Tess Madgen said the club had been clear about the kind of coaching team it wanted.
"We were deliberate about the coaching team we wanted to build around Aja. We didn't want four people who all think the same way or brought the same strengths. Georgia, Rachel and Morgan each bring something different, but they're aligned on how we want to play, the standards we expect and how we want to develop people,".
Rachel Maenpaa, Lead Assistant Coach
Maenpaa's appointment supports Parham-Ammar and strengthens the club’s overall coaching structure. She will carry significant responsibility across the Lightning's basketball program and brings a different perspective and skill set to the group.
Maenpaa is recognised for her basketball IQ, professionalism and ability to communicate with players, and the way she complements Parham-Ammar rather than replicating her strengths. Her role goes beyond just tactics. She will help set the standards, preparation and accountability the Lightning want to be known for.
"Rachel is going to be incredibly important for us. She brings another strong basketball mind into the program and, importantly, someone who will challenge Aja, our players and the rest of us to keep getting better," Madgen said.
Georgia Crouch, Assistant Coach
Crouch provides continuity, WNBL experience and a genuine connection to Adelaide Lightning. She has been involved with the Lightning across multiple seasons and has stepped up when required, including taking charge as interim Head Coach last season.
She understands the demands of the WNBL, knows the Lightning environment and has strong relationships with the players, who trust her to understand what they need day to day while she holds them to high standards. Her continued progression also carries a family connection to the club's championship history. For the Lightning, retaining and developing talented female coaches is just as important as developing South Australian players.
"Georgia represents a lot of what we want the future of the Lightning to look like: talented South Australian people getting genuine opportunities to develop and perform at the highest level," Madgen said.
Morgan Treloar, Development Coach
Treloar is the current South Australian U20 Women's Head Coach, a program that enters 2027 as the reigning national champions. Her appointment connects the Lightning's WNBL program directly with the Lightning Academy and the South Australian player pathway.
She knows the state's basketball landscape and its emerging talent well and will work closely with the Academy so young athletes are developed with a clear understanding of what is expected at WNBL level. The club is building a clearer pathway from junior basketball to the Academy, then into training player and development player roles, and ultimately to the Adelaide Lightning. Having coaches who work across both environments creates genuine alignment between them.
"Morgan's appointment is an important part of connecting the Lightning with the South Australian pathway. We want talented young SA players to be able to see exactly how they can progress towards wearing a Lightning jersey, and Morgan helps us create that bridge," Madgen said.
Madgen said the appointments also reflected the club's commitment to coaches in South Australia.
"We're also really proud that we're creating genuine opportunities for coaches within South Australia. We talk a lot about pathways for players, but there needs to be a pathway for coaches as well. We want Adelaide Lightning to be a place where talented players and talented coaches can develop, be challenged and ultimately perform at the highest level,".
Media Contact
Kate Muller
Kate.muller@akinagency.com.au
0423 860 517
