After starting somewhat late in the sport as a 13-year-old, Joel Khalu went on to enjoy a successful playing career & is highly respected throughout Australian & international coaching circles.
Joel played 230 CBA / ABA / QBL games across 11 seasons, winning 2 x National Championships (1998 & 2007) and 6 x Queensland League Championships (1998, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2011 & 2012). As a player, he holds an astonishing overall record of 192 wins and 38 losses (84%) and reached the playoffs in 10 out of 11 seasons.
In addition to his Australian-based campaigns, Khalu spent 2-years on scholarship in the United States from 2002 to 2004.
In 55 collegiate games, the point guard averaged 15.4 points, 4.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds & 1.5 steals per game. He was captain of the Waukesha Tech team that won the 2004 WJCAA championship, earning a National Player of the Week Award and All-State, All-Conference and Team MVP honours in the same season.
Khalu is also an accomplished FIBA coach & accredited global presenter, having facilitated coach development courses across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific. He also coached at the 2022 NBA Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp held in Canberra, Australia.
He’s coached 50 senior men’s international games with an impressive record of 28 wins & 22 losses. He’s twice led the Papua New Guinea Men’s National Team to 4th place FIBA Pacific Games finishes (2015 & 2019), while also leading the same PNG side to a history-making Gold Medal win at the FIBA Melanesia Cup in 2017.
Along with coaching internationally with Papua New Guinea, Khalu also coached the Australian Indigenous Men’s National Team to four consecutive Trans-Tasman Series titles against the New Zealand Maori Aotearoa National Team (2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018), a Silver Medal at the 2019 International Indigenous Basketball & Cultural Tournament held in New Zealand and an 11th place finish at the 2017 World Indigenous Basketball Championships held in Vancouver, Canada.
Professionally, Khalu currently mentors the Mackay Meteors in the NBL1 North competition. In 6 seasons and 115 games at the helm of the Meteors (2013-15 & 2021-23) he has guided the club to a staggering record of 84 wins & 31 losses (73%), reaching the QBL grand final series in 2014, before winning the QBL title in 2015 and inaugural NBL1 North championship in 2021. Khalu was also recognised as QBL Coach of the Year in 2015 and NBL1 North Coach of the Year in 2022.
In 17 combined seasons as a pro player & coach, Khalu has participated in 11 Grand Finals and won 8 QLD League championships, the most titles by anybody involved in the history of the men’s competition that’s been running for 36 years.
Furthermore, Khalu is committed to helping develop the next wave of international hoops superstars as Assistant Coach of the Australian Emus Junior National Team, a role he was appointed to in January 2022. The Emus were successful in winning gold at the U17 FIBA Oceania Championships held in October 2023.
Closer to home, Khalu also coached the Queensland Under 20 men’s team on an undefeated run to the 2022 Australian Junior National Championship.
Highlights & Milestones.
Coaching:
NBL1 North Coach of the Year - Mackay Meteors | 2022
NBL1 North Champions - Mackay Meteors | 2021
Central Queensland Cup Champions - Mackay Meteors | 2020
Queensland Basketball League Champions - Mackay Meteors | 2015
Queensland Basketball League Coach of the Year - Mackay Meteors | 2015
Queensland Basketball League All Star Team Head Coach - Mackay Meteors | 2015
Queensland Basketball League Grand Finalists - Mackay Meteors | 2014
FIBA U17 Oceania Champions - Australian Emus Junior National Team (Assistant Coach) | 2023
FIBA Melanesia Cup Champions - Papua New Guinea Men’s National Team | 2017
FIBA Pacific Games 4th Place - Papua New Guinea Men’s National Team | 2015 & 2019
FIBA Pacific Championships 7th Place - Papua New Guinea Men’s National Team | 2013
International Indigenous Basketball Tournament Silver Medalists - Australian Indigenous Men’s National Team | 2019
World Indigenous Basketball Championships 11th Place - Australian Indigenous Men’s National Team | 2017
Trans-Tasman Series Champions - Australian Indigenous Men’s National Team | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Australian Junior Championships National Champions - Queensland Under 20 Men | 2022
Australian Junior Championships Silver Medalist - Queensland Under 20 Men | 2014
Tropical Youth League Champions - Cairns Marlins Under 23 Men | 2009
Playing:
Australian Basketball Association National Champions - Cairns Marlins | 2007
Continental Basketball Association National Champions - Cairns Marlins | 1998
Queensland Basketball League Champions - Mackay Meteors | 2011 & 2012
Queensland Basketball League Champions - Cairns Marlins | 1998, 2001, 2007 & 2009
Queensland Basketball League Grand Finalists - Cairns Marlins | 1999 & 2002
Arafura Games Gold Medalist - Cairns Marlins | 2009
Arafura Games Bronze Medalist - Australian Indigenous Men’s National Team | 2007
Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association State Champions - Waukesha Tech | 2004
National Junior College Athletic Association National Player of the Week - Waukesha Tech | 2004
Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association First Team All State - Waukesha Tech | 2003 & 2004
Wisconsin Technical College Conference First Team All Conference - Waukesha Tech | 2003 & 2004
Waukesha Technical College Most Valuable Player - Waukesha Tech | 2003 & 2004
Waukesha Technical College A.J Natalizio Student Athlete Award Winner - Waukesha Tech | 2004
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What People Say.
"I've had the opportunity to play under Joel in both the QBL and for the Australian Indigenous National Team. As a coach he helped me grow my passion for the game and as a mentor, he assisted me with the transition into life after professional basketball. He regularly takes the time out to help me with career advice and was a big part in helping me landing a job working in the youth sector."
— Tyson Demos | Former Pro | 200+ NBL Games
"I was lucky enough to have Joel as my mentor and coach throughout my junior basketball career. As a coach he pushed my limits, helping me to improve my skills through both individual and team-based training sessions. As a mentor he assisted me through the recruiting process to reach my goal of playing college basketball in the in the United States on a full athletic scholarship. Joel has always provided positive guidance through many of my important life choices and has a unique way of making the hard work involved with sport, enjoyable."
— Kelsey McDermott | Pro Basketballer
“I played professional basketball for 7 years in multiple countries and during that time Joel provided me with a solid sounding board to help my career progress in a positive direction. He helped prepare me for a WNBA tryout, which then led to me playing in the EuroLeague. When I was playing in Australia, he helped me to improve my game immensely through challenging individual skill-development sessions that got me out of my comfort zone, giving me an X-factor on-court. He has been consistent in offering me beneficial guidance around strategies to be successful both on and off the court. I strongly endorse his skills as a coach, trainer and mentor.”
— Rachel Gange (Nee Allison) | Former Pro
"I thank God for Joel helping my basketball career shine brighter, because I had the opportunity to compete against him as an opponent, beside him as a teammate and for him as my coach, winning several championships along the way. Joel has been more than just a friend and mentor, he has become family to me, so that's why he has always steered me in the right direction, giving me advice about life as a role-model and being a high-level athlete, which has lead me to play professionally in the NBL, QBL, SEABL, NBL1 and for the Australian Indigenous National Team."
— Deba George | Pro Basketballer
"Joel helped me get my basketball career off the ground, starting with sending me to college in the United States on a full athletic scholarship. His guidance and mentorship on and off the court has helped me play professional basketball in ten different countries and reach levels such as the NBA G-League. He has always been selfless in his approach to helping me reach my goals as a professional player, but more importantly, making sure I stay grounded and build a morally sound base to grow from after basketball."
— Matthew Adekponya | Former Pro
“I’ve been playing professionally now for 5 years and Joel is the first coach to truly see me as a person and a player. For the first time in my career I felt someone had my best interest at heart which led me to completely trusting him. He’s a true expert of the game and his knowledge is exceptional. I was able to learn a lot from him in our championship season at Mackay. Coach Joel’s confidence in me helped propel me to the NBL and for that I’ll be forever grateful.”
— Emmanuel Malou | Pro Basketballer