Levelling Up with Jono Hansford

In just a few years, Hansford has built a reputation as one of Australia’s best skills development coaches and he’s helping players level up, while they help him do the same.

Before he even sets foot on the court most days, Jono Hansford has already put hours of preparation work in readiness for his athletes’ arrivals.

Hansford, who hails from Melbourne’s southern suburbs, has built a client base of professional basketball players and emerging talent through hard work, personal dedication, targeted communication, and a lot of video analysis – a lot! And while he appears to have one of the coolest jobs in Australian basketball – and he may indeed have that – it is by no means easy.

In fact, Hansford may spend more time analysing and breaking down film of his clients, than what he spends on the court with them. But that’s what makes him so effective.

A typical day for Hansford would see him on the court from the morning till mid-afternoon with pro clients, and then running group sessions for select junior talent afterwards, late into the night.

“Well, I wake up and the first thing I’m doing is going to the court,” Hansford told The Pick and Roll on Wednesday.

“Pretty much from 9am until 3pm I’m on court training professional athletes. Hopefully being on court with them as much as possible. And then from 4:30 to 9:30pm I’m training junior athletes to state athletes.

“Starting still grassroots … [and] doing more and more juniors from 12s on now, because we can fix core fundamentals that build pathways all the way through as they get to [become] older basketball players.

“So, that’s typically my day. Just smashing through coaching and if I have breaks, I’m either watching film or doing anything else I can to help and learn.”

Photo Credit: jonohansford.com

Being a trainer is not necessarily something Hansford had planned for himself. He had done a fair bit of coaching when he was younger, mostly because he just loves being around and involved in basketball. Having played rep basketball since he was 11, Hansford was inspired to coach by some of the coaches he had along the way.

“I went to Caulfield Grammar and was coached by Chris Anstey. Chris Anstey was the man. The way that he spoke, he led, it was just inspiring. I also had Andrew Gaze a little as well at Melbourne Tigers juniors and I thought Andrew was incredible. And alongside Warrick Giddey as well.

“What Andrew was really good at was showing how much details matter. He was always quite intense and particular when he needed to be. But I thought Warrick was incredible at actually talking through or communicating everything to make sure you understood. So as I got older and older, I always respected that – the ability to communicate with people differently.”

But it was a chance opportunity with one player who needed some help, that really propelled him into the skills development space.