Bellarine Storm announces that Tim Sanderson has stepped down from his role as Head Coach of the Championship Women’s team, following an outstanding tenure that has seen the program grow into one of the most respected in the league.
Tim was first appointed as Head Coach in 2020, a season that unfortunately never went ahead due to COVID. Since taking charge, he has transformed the program into a model of consistency, culture, and performance.
Under his leadership, the Storm Women rose from a 4–12 record in Division 1 Women in 2022 to a 13–5 record and Grand Final appearance in 2023, earning promotion to the State Championship Division. The team continued to thrive at the top level, finishing second on the ladder in 2024 with an 18–4 record before narrowly missing out on a Grand Final berth, and then producing a dominant 19–3 campaign in 2025, finishing as Runners-Up.
Tim’s success has been recognised across the league, being named Big V Coach of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. Beyond results, he has been widely credited for building a strong, united culture within the women’s program and setting high standards for player development and professionalism.
Bellarine General Manager Nick Stamatopoulos praised Sanderson’s contribution and explained the reasons behind his decision:
“Tim’s leadership and commitment over the past several years have been nothing short of exceptional. He has built a culture of belief, professionalism and togetherness that has set a new benchmark for our women’s program. Tim is stepping down to dedicate more time to his young family, with another baby on the way later this year. We completely support his decision and are grateful that he will continue to play an important role in our club.”
Tim will remain involved in the Storm program through his ongoing position as Development & High Performance Manager at the Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association. He will continue to provide guidance and support across our junior program and take up a support role with all of our senior teams to continue driving our program forward.
Sanderson said coaching the program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career:
“Coaching the Bellarine senior women’s team has been an absolute honour. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some exceptional people on coaching staff and in our playing group. I’m proud that the team is in a much stronger position now than when I began the role and know with the playing group and staff we have moving forwards that it will continue to contend in our league. While I’m not on the sidelines, I’m excited to be able to follow the girls’ progress as a supporter and be able to provide assistance to all of our senior teams as we strive for excellence. I’d like to thank the club for its trust in me to lead the women’s program over the past five years and look forward to now spending some more time with my young family.”
The Bellarine Storm thanks Tim for his incredible service and leadership, and we look forward to seeing his continued influence on the next generation of Storm athletes.