READING Rockets coach Alan Keane has taken over from Pedro Rosado at the clubs EABL Academy in Reading.

Academy director Matt Johnson said: “It is an exciting time for our sport and our club.

“Three years ago Pedro started to develop the role of expanding the programme at JMA by building a sixth form High Performance programme for young men and women from across the UK and Europe.

“Within those three years we have moved up in the EABL rankings, developed a programme that is now producing high level student athletes, and is well linked across Europe and the USA.

“The work done over these three years within the school has laid a very good foundation for us to now take the next step on the performance ladder and coach Keane will certainly do a very good job in helping the Academy grow up even more.”

He continued: “Working with Alan is always a challenge, and something I have always personally embraced.

“He is a critical thinker, is dedicated to his craft as a high performance coach and is always ready to listen to new methodology and ideas.

“Alan’s academic background and current PhD study is a reflection of the way he constantly wants to improve himself and others around him and I am excited to see the way we can develop our programme to become the very best environment for learning it can be.”

Coach Keane is a former national team head coach and is relishing his new role, commenting: “Taking on any new role in basketball is always exciting.

“However working with JMA Academy raises my level of enthusiasm even higher. I have always felt that coaching in the EABL must be very rewarding when you consider the structure of the league and the calibre of athletes and coaches involved.

“I am already aware of the professionalism and elite provisions in place at JMA Basketball Academy and Reading Rockets having coached with the latter this past season.

“I know how forward thinking the club and school are and that excites me most when I consider what I can bring to the programme.”

Rockets chairman Gary Johnson concluded: “We are incredibly pleased with Pedro and the work he has done here.

“We wish him all the best in his next steps as a young and impressive coach.

“Alan will be a fantastic addition to the programme in many areas and we look forward to starting the journey together.”