Myles Delport

Your feature coach this week is a man of unmatched passion for the game we know and love. Myles Delport is known for his court side antics that is shouting and on any given day a bleeding forehead. But one thing is for sure, and that is he will bring the best out of you. Myles has been behind two of the biggest school programmes in South African history, DHS and now Kearsney College. Anyone that ever came up against these schools while he was the coach knew they were in for a rough day at the office. And with a wealth of experience to his name ranging from the famous PBL and Mens provincial tournaments.

I got in touch with Myles Delport earlier this week to find out more about his extensive coaching career:

Current club or coaching spot? I am currently coaching the Kearsney College first team and in charge of the basketball program there. I am also involved in the coaching of the Marlins basketball team.

Who or what motivated you to get serious about coaching? I have always enjoyed interacting with people and enjoy seeing people develop so coaching is a natural fit. It also comes as part of my job as a teacher. I am very competitive and so I am motivated by doing the best with what I have, I have always enjoyed my interaction with the kids I have coached and you get to see a different side of people on the sports field.

Have you modelled your coaching philosophies after another coach or has it been "self taught"? I have drawn my coaching philosophes from a large number of people. I really enjoy Phil Jackson and Bobby Knight they both have different styles of coaching but seem to get the best out of their teams. I have also learned a lot from watching Joquim Rodrigues, Craig Gilchrist and Donavan fletcher coach. They have a very distinctive coaching styles and I learned a great deal from them. My philosophies I suppose are an amalgamation of a lot of different styles of coaching.

Favourite coaching moment? Beating the “superstar” St Stithians first basketball team in the semi-finals during 2019 at the Independent Schools Stayers Tournament with a bunch of no name scrubs who played their hearts out and did not back down at any time. There have been many others but this one sticks in my memory.

A favourite team to have coached? There have been a lot of them it’s very hard to single out juts one, I prefer coaching teams who are not packed with a lot of natural talent and have to work hard for everything that they get. The more difficult a journey is with a team the more I enjoy it, even if it is frustrating at times and you want to tear your hair out.

highest level coached? I have been an assistant coach for the National U18 team, I have coached the Marlins in the PBL and I have coached the KZN men’s and U18 teams.

biggest accomplishment as a coach?

I think being involved in two national recognised schools basketball programs – DHS from 1998 – 2008 and the Kearsney College 2008 – 2020. Helping both of these programs grow in to basketball powerhouse programs. It has been great to work with wonderful people and develop a great team of coaches working to together to accomplish the programs goals. I also think that taking the first South African High School team, in the post-apartheid era, to the USA on basketball tour in 2005 and what a memorable experience it proved to be.