OUR TEAM.
DESIGNED AND BUILT IN IPSWICH.
NICK DRANE
FOUNDER & PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
Nick Drane is the founder of Playground2Pro and one of the most respected and successful performance basketball coaches in the UK. His coaching career includes multiple National Championships with Ipswich Basketball Club and Copleston Basketball Academy, as well as international success — highlighted by a silver medal with the England U16s in 2011 and a rare opportunity to coach in Division A at the 2014 U18 European Championships. His pedigree in elite player development is matched by very few.
Despite a quarter of a century of professional coaching experience at the highest levels, Nick is always quick to point out that his journey began in the most grassroots of settings: introducing the sport to beginners. Born and raised in the Ipswich area, he takes immense pride in leading a pathway that supports every stage of a young person’s basketball journey — from their first moments in a school playground to competing as professionals or representing their country.
Nick remains hands‑on within the programme, continuing to lead sessions across the pathway with a particular focus on Talent Identification and the elite development environment. His ability to connect with players of all ages, combined with his vision for long‑term growth, has shaped Playground2Pro into one of the strongest community‑to‑performance pathways in the country.
Nick remains the only coach in the history of English Basketball to win coach of the year in both the mens and women elite academy leagues. In recognition of his impact on the sport, Nick was named the 2023 Basketball England National Coach of the Year, the highest individual honour a coach can receive in the UK. He followed this with another major accolade in 2024, being awarded the Basketball England National Player Development Coach of the Year, further cementing his reputation as one of the leading developers of talent in the country.
HARRIET WELHAM
SKILLS COACH + ELITE CAMPS LEAD COACH
Harriet Welham is an established leader within English basketball, recognised for her exceptional playing record and her growing impact as a performance‑pathway coach. Across more than a decade in the Women’s National Basketball League, she has become the league’s most decorated player ever, earning multiple WNBL Division One Most Valuable Player awards, several National Cup Final MVP honours, and holding the record for the most WNBL Division One appearances, points, rebounds, assists and three-point shooting. Her consistency, competitive resilience, and ability to elevate team performance have made her a central figure in the success Ipswich Basketball, where she has served as Club Captain and a driving force behind multiple national titles.
Welham’s playing career also includes professional experience in France, where she further developed her tactical understanding, leadership, and adaptability within high‑performance environments. Returning to Ipswich in 2023, she resumed her role as a senior leader and continues to contribute to the club’s competitive ambitions and player‑development culture.
Alongside her on‑court achievements, Harriet has built a strong coaching portfolio across youth, academy, and senior performance pathways. She has led Ipswich’s U18 Women to a National League playoff championship in 2025 and has played a key role within the Copleston WEABL and EABL programmes, supporting the development of some of the country’s top young prospects. She was appointed the England U17’s Assistant Coach for the Four Nations in 2025, winning the gold medal. In 2025, she was appointed Head Coach of the Copleston EABL programme, becoming the first female Head Coach in EABL history, reflecting her growing reputation as a coach capable of delivering both performance outcomes and long‑term athlete development.
Her dual expertise — elite‑level playing experience combined with hands‑on coaching success — positions her as a highly credible practitioner within talent pathways, community engagement, and performance‑driven environments. She brings a proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire athletes while contributing strategically to programme development and delivery.
CYRIL DRISCOLL
P2P COMMUNITY COACH
Cyril Driscoll is a proud product of the Playground2Pro and Ipswich basketball pathway — a journey that began as a young player in our Primary Schools Programme and continued through the Centre of Excellence, holiday camps, and Ipswich Basketball Club. His progression from participant to coach reflects both his dedication to the sport and the strength of the development pathway he grew up in.
After injury impacted his playing years within the Ipswich system, Cyril transitioned into coaching at Copleston Basketball Academy, where he now brings the same energy, curiosity, and commitment that defined him as a player. As a budding young coach with a bright future, Cyril blends a deep passion for basketball with a natural ability to lead, motivate, and connect with the people around him — especially young players taking their first steps in the game.
Cyril’s coaching style is rooted in enthusiasm, empathy, and a genuine desire to help others grow. His lived experience within the Playground2Pro pathway gives him a unique understanding of what young athletes need to feel supported, inspired, and confident.
From player to coach, Cyril represents what the Playground2Pro community is all about: opportunity, development, and giving back to the next generation.
