Our Staff & Coaches

Originally from the basketball-addicted country of Turkey, Mustafa first picked up a basketball at the age of 11 and quickly developed a love for the game.

Last season, he coached the Coventry Tornadoes U11 team, leading them to two championship titles by winning both the YBL and WBA competitions.

Mustafa is passionate about helping young players develop their skills, confidence, teamwork, and believes that effort, attitude, and enjoying the journey are just as important as the final score.

His son also plays for the team, which means basketball conversations don't stop when training ends; they simply continue on the journey home!

David Gilbert is a lifelong basketball fan who has followed the NBA for decades, David brings a wealth of coaching and athlete development experience from outside the sport.

He has over 12 years’ experience training, competing and coaching in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he competed at national level, won medals across multiple weight classes, and trained alongside World champions, national champions and UFC fighters. He has also trained extensively in boxing and mixed martial arts, developing a strong understanding of discipline, resilience, teamwork and the commitment required to perform at an elite level.

For the past decade, David has supported his eldest son’s basketball development, helping him prepare both technically and mentally throughout his playing journey. He is now continuing that journey with his youngest son, whose involvement in National League basketball inspired David to become more actively involved in coaching.

David’s coaching philosophy centres on player development, teamwork and creating a positive, competitive environment where young athletes can build confidence, improve their skills and develop a lifelong love of the game. He is passionate about helping every player reach their potential both on and off the court.

Having joined the Tornadoes Basketball family aged 6, Issy is one of our longest serving members and is Tornadoes through and through. Having played for Tornadoes across a variety of teams, including YBL Mixed, U21s and Women’s leagues and even Men’s Third team in the Warwickshire League, she also represented West Midlands two years running whist still at primary school.

She started off as a junior coach within the club and became assistant coach for the U9s. Over the last few years, she has been assistant coach for U12s and then Head Coach for the U13s and U15’s, taking two teams that season to ensure that everyone got to play. As U15’s Head Coach for the 25-26season, she took the team to finish top of the table in both the YBL and Warwickshire leagues and went on to win both championship finals as well!

As if this wasn’t enough, she is a Level 2 table official and Level 2 referee, and regularly officiates at the club, when coaching and playing commitments allow. She has also just completed her Sports Coaching Degree.

This season she is coaching the U17s team and is looking forward to sharing her passion for the sport and enabling players to enjoy the same positive and inclusive experience that she herself has had during her Tornadoes journey

Adam is new to the tornadoes family, moving to the club start of the 25/26 season.

He coached over at Nuneaton Predators for over 5 years where a great relationship was formed between clubs and coaches.

Decision was made to move his son Tommy over to the club to further develop within the national league rankings, which in-turn brought over Adam to coach his first season here for the U14s National league team.

Adam is very passionate for the game and coaches with a desire to develop the players on and more importantly off the court.

We’re heading into the new season where he will be coaching our U16s national league team.

From Dutch Courts to English Sidelines

He discovered basketball at age 12 in the Netherlands and never looked back.

After moving to the UK, he played for Crawley in West Sussex near national league level, then spent the last 18 years competing in the Warwickshire league around Coventry/Rugby, winning plenty of team awards along the way.

A big, half-French/English guy with linguistic mastery, he coaches and communicates fluently in Dutch, German, French, and English. Building on his watersports coaching experience, he’s now a qualified Level 2 Basketball Coach and a nearly newly qualified referee with Basketball England.

The big guy knows exactly what he’s doing — still bringing energy and flair to the game! 🏀

Garrick Wong has loved basketball since he first picked up a ball at the age of 12. By the time he was 18, he had already discovered another passion—coaching—and has been dedicated ever since to helping young players develop not only their basketball skills but also their confidence, teamwork and love for the game.

After moving from Hong Kong to the UK in 2022, Garrick joined Coventry Tornadoes and quickly found a new basketball family. He became a key member of the Men's team and earned the respect of his teammates as one of the team's most reliable and influential players.

Now in his fifth season with the Tornadoes, Garrick has coached the U12, U13 and now the U15 team. He believes every player deserves the opportunity to grow, enjoy the game and reach their full potential.

For Garrick, basketball is much more than a sport—it's his second life. He is proud to give back to the game that has shaped him and is passionate about inspiring the next generation of Tornadoes players, both on and off the court.

Originally from London, Victor Olunloyo moved to Coventry in 2019 to attend Coventry University, where he started his basketball journey as both a player and coach. Since then, he has built valuable experience through his time with Coventry University and Coventry Flames, developing a strong understanding of the game from multiple perspectives.

Victor is passionate about helping players improve, whether they’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in their development. His coaching style focuses on creating a positive, supportive environment where players can build confidence, develop their skills, and enjoy competing as part of a team.

Erika’s basketball journey began as a young girl, playing until she was 16 before stepping away from the sport—as so many girls do. Five years ago, her son picked up a ball and unknowingly reignited her passion for the game. Since then, she’s thrown herself back into basketball with energy, purpose, and a real commitment, supporting her son's basketball journey and joining the Tornadoes Ladies team in 2022. She’s incredibly proud of her extremely talented son, who is now studying and playing overseas on a basketball scholarship.

After a strong season as assistant coach, Erika now steps into her first year as Head Coach of the Ladies Team. She’ll be supported by our experienced female coaching team, with Helen as Assistant Coach, and Coach Issy and Coach Holly bringing their expertise to the programme.

Erika is deeply committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all women and girls—any age, any experience level, everyone is encouraged to get involved and feel part of the team.

Helen has been a dedicated volunteer with Tornadoes Basketball Club since 2010, when her eldest son first joined the team. Over the years, she has coached across multiple age groups — U9, U11, U12, U13, U15 — as well as Girls and Ladies teams, bringing energy, encouragement, and a deep love of the game to every session.

Beyond the court, Helen has served on the club committee for several years, helping shape Tornadoes’ growth and community spirit. She’s also mentored several new coaches, guiding them through their qualifications and supporting them through their first season.

Helen is taking a step back in 2026/27 to support her youngest daughter who plays for a girls teams at another regional club. She still plays with the Tornadoes Ladies team and enjoys competing in maxi tournaments, proving that her passion for basketball is as strong as ever. Her commitment to developing players and coaches alike continues to make her an invaluable part of the Tornadoes family.

Our Coaching Staff & Committee

Our committee

Director, Head Coach & Main Club Contact

Safeguarding & Compliance

Fixtures Secretary

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