Basketball Tasmania congratulates Marty Clarke OAM on being named in the Australia Day 2026 Honours, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for his lifelong service to basketball as both a player and coach.
A proud Tasmanian, Clarke’s journey to the highest levels of the game began in the state’s North West, where the newly formed North West Basketball Union (NWBU) played a pivotal role in his early development. Beginning his basketball journey in 1975, he has often credited the NWBU for having a massive influence on his pathway.
He went on to spend three years on scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport before enjoying a successful NBL playing career with the North Melbourne Giants, including being part of the club’s 1989 Championship team. His coaching career would prove equally influential, beginning in Tasmania before returning to the AIS where he spent 12 years coaching Academy and Australian junior teams, helping develop future stars including Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and Joe Ingles.
Across his career, Marty has held senior roles as Head Coach of the Adelaide 36ers, Assistant Coach of the Australian Boomers, and with St Mary’s College in the United States, before leading the AIS-based NBA Global Academy from 2018 until 2025.
