APIA (Samoa) - Lisa Hogben's journey in basketball coaching is a testament to her dedication, passion, and commitment to the sport and her heritage. As a coach for various Samoa national women's teams, Lisa has made significant strides, not only in the development of her players but also in representing Samoa on the international stage.
A Journey Rooted in Passion
Lisa's coaching career with Team Samoa began in 2019 when she was approached to coach the women's team at the Pacific Games hosted in Samoa. Reflecting on her motivation, Lisa said, "Being involved in the 2007 Pacific Games as an athlete, I was honoured (and nervous) to have the opportunity to be a part of the Games as a coach. My mum had also recently taken junior campaigns as the delegate and was heavily involved with the preparations. I was excited to have the chance to be involved, to give back and be a part of Team Samoa."
Lisa’s mother, Leilua Matuauto Pauline, also represented Samoa (as Western Samoa) at the 1983 South Pacific Games, one year after Lisa was born. Basketball was born in her veins, and she harnessed that passion to pave her own basketball career as a player, and coach.
Achievements and Milestones
Lisa's coaching record is impressive, with notable achievements including:
2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ > Bronze at the Pacific Games - Basketball Tournament for Women
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ > Champions at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup - Division B, making history by promoting to Division A
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ > Bronze at the FIBA U15 Women’s Oceania Cup
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ > Silver at the FIBA Women’s Polynesian Cup
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ > 7th place at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup, the first Pacific nation (outside of Australia and New Zealand) to compete in Division A
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ > Bronze at the FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup, making history by beating New Zealand in the pool rounds
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ > 4th place at the Pacific Games - Basketball Tournament for Women
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ > 4th place at the FIBA U15 Women’s Oceania Cup
Coaching Philosophy and Impact
Lisa's coaching philosophy revolves around cultivating skilled, disciplined players who understand the value of hard work, team dynamics, and mental fortitude. She emphasizes a ‘we before me’ mentality, focusing on teamwork and a positive attitude both on and off the court.
"Ultimately, I aim to develop not only basketball athletes but well-rounded Tamai'ta'i Samoa (Samoan Women) who understand the importance of effort, respect, and character," Lisa said.
Her approach has resonated well with her players, especially those based in Samoa who face limited opportunities due to infrastructure and resource constraints. "Our home-based athletes have a lot of passion for the game, they love the game just as much as those off-island," Lisa said.
Mentorship and Continuous Learning
Lisa credits much of her growth as a coach to her mentors. She fondly remembers her first senior and representative coach, Rino Zancan, and Australian Master Coach Ray Tomlinson, who has significantly influenced her coaching journey.
"Coach Ray has helped Team Samoa at training camps and has been a big advocate to me personally with his open-door policy always willing to help however he can," Lisa said.
Participating in FIBA coaching courses, such as the Tournament Coach Course for Women (2024) and the Marty Handson Scholarship Program (2023), has also been instrumental for the Samoan coach.
"These sessions are valuable for federations like ours who do not operate with paid professional roles. I have always picked up something new in these sessions that I have been able to apply or add to my repertoire," Lisa said. "I found both coaching courses interesting and helpful. Especially with the TCC (Tournament Coach Course) it was nice to hear from top programs such as Australia regarding how they do things. Being shown by coaches’ concepts of planning and readiness activities in preparation for campaigns on and off court."
Her involvement in FIBA courses has been crucial in her development, providing her with new insights and techniques to apply in her coaching. Lisa's commitment to coaching and her desire to give back to her community are evident in her dedication to developing young athletes in Samoa, while also challenging herself to learn more about coaching.
When asked about the importance of coaching education she said "the game is continually growing and developing and therefore we as coaches should be evolving. At the same time, I am old school though and at the end of the day the core elements and fundamentals of the game don’t change. We need to get the ball in the hoop, and you need defensive stops to win. You have to strip it back to fundamentals knowing how to and when to pass, shoot, space, where to stand as the basics."
Family and Community Support
Balancing her coaching career with family life has been challenging but rewarding. Lisa acknowledges the unwavering support of her husband and children.
"I have the best husband partner in the world who without his support mentally, financially (especially this) I couldn’t do what I do. His love for Samoa and me is above and beyond for basketball, but he is a proud Aussie supporting Team Samoa," she said.
Highlights and Low Points
Reflecting on her coaching career to date, Lisa shares both high points and low points. "Top highlight would be the 2022 FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup in Jordan. It was our first junior campaign for me, and the management team. Coming out of COVID and no one had Jordan on their travel list for that year let alone winning - we had no idea what to expect. Great first experience," she said. On the other hand, she mentions the disappointment of missing the gold medal game by one point at the 2023 Pacific Games and the tough competition at the FIBA U15 Women’s Oceania Cup in 2024.
Future Aspirations
Currently, Lisa is not coaching locally in Melbourne – Australia, focusing instead on her daughter's basketball journey. However, she looks forward to returning to coaching women's or junior teams once her daughter completes her junior representative career.
"I think any time you get to coach you are building that experience and I have always learned something new," Lisa said.
Lisa Hogben's story is one of passion, dedication, and a deep love for her heritage. Her journey as a coach for Team Samoa is a testament to the power of hard work, continuous learning, and the support of a loving family and community. Through her efforts, Lisa is not only developing skilled athletes but also inspiring the next generation of Samoan women to pursue their dreams both on and off the court.