WAVERLEY Falcons have signed coach Eric Minerve for the 2011 basketball season. Minerve led the Falcons to the Big V League Championship title this year and believes the side will be "as good or better" next year.

He said he was never in any doubt to return. "Waverley is my home now. There was a little interest from other places but I wasn't going to leave.

"I have a year-to-year deal with the club but I have been talking to general manager Mike Bullock about long-term planning for the team, so I don't plan on going anywhere."

Minerve has coached the Falcons since 2009 and was assistant coach for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

He also continues to coach at junior level for the Falcons, leading the club's under-18 boys first team and serving as director of the junior boys program.

Minerve said the Falcons were in talks with an American college player who used to play for the Falcons and with "two or three" other leading players.

"Our core nucleus is quite young and I would say they still have a three or four seasons where they will be in the prime of their basketball careers.

"So if we add a couple more players and bring up some more young players then we should be up there again."

The Falcons have also signed former NBA player Sedale Threatt as coach of its Big V Youth League men's team.

Threatt joins his son, Sedale jnr, at the club. Sedale jnr plays for the Falcons and will also coach the under-20 men's team next year.

Bullock said the Falcons had yet to decide on a coach for its women's team in the Big V Championship competition next season.

He said long-time Falcons player Elias Palyioyiannis would coach the Falcons Big V Youth League women's team next season.

Back on board: Waverley Falcons have signed up coach Eric Minerve for the next season. Picture: Melissa Sudero