WHEN Ipswich Force appointed Dean Aspland as head coach of its NBL1 North women’s program, it wasn’t simply a coaching change – it was a philosophical one.
After several seasons where effort has not translated into results, Ipswich has turned to a leader whose reputation is built not just on tactics, but on culture, development and connection to community.
For Aspland, success isn’t measured solely by wins and losses – it’s measured by whether players want to stay, grow, and come back.
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” Aspland said.
“If there’s no pathway for young female athletes to make it to the NBL1 program, that’s where we lose them.”
Aspland arrives at Ipswich with extensive experience across Queensland’s women’s basketball landscape, including time as an NBL1 head coach and Queensland State League coach, as well as assistant roles at some of the state’s strongest programs.
“At big programs, culture can get lost because players just arrive – you don’t have to go and get them,” he said.
“If the people in decision- making roles are invested in pathways, you can create something that lasts longer than any one coach.”
That blueprint is exactly what Ipswich asked him to bring west.
For Aspland, Ipswich isn’t a stepping stone – it’s a place worth investing in.
“There are very, very good people at Ipswich who make that club what it is,” he said.
The solution, he believes, lies in reconnecting the senior team with its junior base – bringing back key Ipswich-raised players who understand the importance of visibility and presence.
Central to Aspland’s plan is strong oversight of the three branches of the women’s program – youth league, Queensland State League and NBL1.
“A lot of girls age out at 18s or 20s and never play again,” he said.
“I want them to have somewhere to go – youth league, QSL, then NBL1.”
But he’s adamant it won’t be rushed.
“It’s not fast-tracking them to the point they’re out of their depth. The jump between each level is significant, and we need to prepare them basketball-wise, mentally, physically and culturally.”
Aspland’s recruiting philosophy for the Lady Force is refreshingly blunt.
“I recruit good people who happen to be good at basketball,” he said.
Ipswich, he says, is a blue-collar community that turns up – and the players have to match that commitment.
“If I have to chase you to play for Ipswich, you don’t fit here. That’s not personal – it’s about alignment.”
Despite new faces, nothing is locked in.
“There is no starting five,” he said. “You earn your spot. You earn your minutes.”
Aspland’s promise is simple.
“You’ll see a brand of basketball you’re proud to associate with Ipswich.”
