Super League Basketball is delighted to announce the winner of the Molten Betty Codona Coach of the Year, following a voting process involving the League’s Head Coaches and Captains.
Newcastle Eagles Head Coach Chloe Gaynor has secured the honours with 10 of a possible 20 votes, marking her first Coach of the Year win in her first season as a head coach at SLB level.
After starting the season as a player for the Eagles, Gaynor probably couldn’t have predicted her season would transpire this way as she took over the coaching responsibilities in the winter following the departure of Matt Newby and has since crafted a historic season for Newcastle, securing their best-ever Championship finish (third).
Alongside this, the club reached the Cup and Play-off semi-finals in 2025 as the fast-paced, energetic outfit she has put together at the Vertu Motors Arena have become legitimate contenders for top honours under the rookie head coach’s leadership.
Reflecting on her win, Gaynor said:
“I am really proud and grateful to have won this award and to have been given the opportunity to coach a club and a group of players that means so much to me. I have a fantastic group of staff around me who support and challenge me every day and this award is for them as much as it is for anybody else.
“I couldn’t have achieved this without so many other people and I’m proud of the work that we’ve all put in to achieve what we have done this season.”
Eagles Managing Director Paul Blake added:
“We’re absolutely delighted for Chloe on winning Coach of The Year after an amazing first season in charge.
“As the club’s first player-coach since Fab Flournoy, who’s legacy in our sport and across our region goes without saying, Chloe has really started creating her own legacy.
“It’s been fantastic to watch Chloe lead her teammates to their highest league finish in the history of the Eagles women’s programme.
“I know that I join all our fans, players and staff in congratulating Chloe on this award and we’re excited as ever to see how our women’s SLB franchise can continue its success both on and off the court next season.”
You can find a full voting record for the Molten Betty Codona Coach of the Year below:
| Voter | Position | Club | Selection |
| Erin McGarrachan | Captain | Caledonia Gladiators | Rheanne Bailey |
| Chantelle Handy | Coach | Caledonia Gladiators | Chloe Gaynor |
| Laura Shanahan | Captain | Cardiff Met Archers | Lee Ryan |
| Stef Collins | Coach | Cardiff Met Archers | Lee Ryan |
| Marina Fernandez | Captain | Durham Palatinates | Chloe Gaynor |
| Lee Davie | Coach | Durham Palatinates | Chloe Gaynor |
| Claire Paxton | Captain | Essex Rebels | Chloe Gaynor |
| Ashley Cookson | Coach | Essex Rebels | Chloe Gaynor |
| Jess Eadsforth-Yates | Captain | Leicester Riders | Chloe Gaynor |
| Ben Stanley | Coach | Leicester Riders | Stef Collins |
| Macy Spinks | Captain | London Lions | Lee Ryan |
| Dan Petts | Coach | London Lions | Chloe Gaynor |
| Lauren Thomas-Johnson | Captain | Manchester Basketball | Vanessa Ellis |
| Rheanne Bailey | Coach | Manchester Basketball | Chantelle Handy |
| Tierra Hodges | Captain | Newcastle Eagles | Lee Ryan |
| Chloe Gaynor | Coach | Newcastle Eagles | Stef Collins |
| Jiselle Havas | Captain | Nottingham Wildcats | Lee Ryan |
| Karen Burton | Coach | Nottingham Wildcats | Chloe Gaynor |
| Shanice Beckford-Norton | Captain | Oaklands Wolves | Chloe Gaynor |
| Lee Ryan | Coach | Oaklands Wolves | Chantelle Handy |
| Georgia Gayle | Captain | Sheffield Hatters | Chloe Gaynor |
| Vanessa Ellis | Coach | Sheffield Hatters | Stef Collins |