The three-time Olympian and winner of five WNBL titles follows Lori Chizik (South East Melbourne Magic) in becoming just the second female to sign on to an NBL coaching staff.

Timms joins head coach Shane Heal and assistant coach Guy Molloy on the Crazy John’s South Dragons’ new-season coaching roster.

“When the opportunity to join the coaching staff arose I was really motivated because of who we have in Shane Heal and Guy Molloy and I thought I’d put my hat in the ring,” Timms said.

“Definitely in the long run I’d like to be a head coach and what a great opportunity to learn off one of the best point guards ever to play the game in Australia in Shane Heal and one of the best coaches Australia’s ever had in Guy Molloy.

“When I spoke to Shane he was very positive about having me involved and it was a wonderful opportunity I didn’t want to knock back.”

Timms joins the Crazy John’s South Dragons’ coaches’ panel after two stints as assistant coach of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, most recently in 2005.

“I think my strength is really bringing players along; I love getting out there in a one-on-one situation and coaching the players on how to play and the intensity you need to bring to the game, so I’m really looking forward to that side of things, the individual work with the younger players,” she said.

“I think one of my strengths as a player and as a coach is that I bring high energy to training sessions and as a player and an assistant coach that was one of the things I liked to bring to the training sessions day in, day out, and to bring my personality to the training court.”

The former point guard and national captain said she was excited by the brand of basketball the team would employ in season 2007/08.

“I’m just excited because Shane is so passionate and the type of game he wants the Dragons to play is exactly the style that I’ve always played myself, so I’m loving the emphasis that we’re going to have throughout the season,” she said.

“Obviously from a team perspective I’m hoping we can win the Championship and whether that’s year one, year two, that’s what we’re working towards and personally I want to be the best assistant to Shane that I can be. It’s a very big role that he plays and I want to make sure he sees me as a positive in that picture.

“For me individually I want to grow as an assistant coach because that’s something I want to maintain. You don’t suddenly become a head coach without many years under your belt of learning the game, even though you’ve played it’s another learning curve how to coach, so I’m hoping over the next three or four years.

Crazy John’s South Dragons head coach Shane Heal said the addition of Timms to the coaching staff was a major asset.

“It’s a massive boost for the club because I think while she was great in the office, she’s been to three Olympic Games and she’s a pioneer of women’s basketball in Australia.

“Some of the ideas she’s already contributed in the coaches’ meetings thus far have been great and I think she will be a really good addition.

“Along with Guy Molloy I think I’ve probably surrounded myself with the most experienced assistants in the NBL, so I feel pretty lucky and I think the people who will get as big a benefit as me will be the players, and that’s what we’re trying to do, to give the players the best opportunity to be the best they can.”

“Most of our young guys want to play for Australia and whether you’ve done it in men’s or women’s basketball, you’ve experienced it at a top level and particularly with Michele being a point guard, she’s a good thinker of the game.”

While the Crazy John’s South Dragons coaching structure remains unique in the national league, Heal said he believed it to be a winning formula.

“I feel like we’ve got a really good balance with what we do,” he said.

“I feel like I’ve got a really big advantage being out on court and being able to change up the defences and not have to look to the bench to change things up; I feel like we’re pretty strong in all the positions and I’m just looking forward to getting into the season with this structure.”