From the Snakepit to the Summit: A Hawks History

You don’t talk about the history of Australian basketball without talking about the Illawarra Hawks. As the NBL’s only remaining foundation club, the Hawks aren’t just a team; they are the living, breathing timeline of the league itself.

The story began in 1979, when a group of local scrappers entered the National Basketball League’s inaugural season. They played out of Beaton Park Stadium—better known to the faithful as "The Snakepit"—a venue that wasn't just a court, but a fortress of cramped seats, chaotic noise, and suffocating heat that visiting teams learned to dread.

For two decades, the club built its identity on the hardwood of the Snakepit before evolving. In 1998, they adopted the moniker "Wollongong Hawks" and moved to the WIN Entertainment Centre, the "Sandpit," a modern stage fitting for a team with growing national ambitions. But while the venue changed and the name shifted—eventually returning to the Illawarra Hawks in 2015 to honour their regional roots —the ethos remained the same: resilience, community, and an unmatched fighting spirit.

The Championship Era

‍That spirit was immortalised in the 2000/01 season. Under the guidance of head coach Brendan Joyce, and led by the tenacious duo of Glen Saville and Mat Campbell, the Hawks shed the underdog tag to claim their maiden NBL Championship. It was a title won the hard way—grinding through three-game series against Perth and Adelaide, before defeating Townsville to bring the trophy home.

It would take 24 years of near-misses and heartbreak—including Grand Final appearances in 2005, 2010, and 2017—before the mountain was climbed again.

The 2024/25 season wrote the perfect second chapter. Led by Coach of the Year Justin Tatum, the Hawks soared from a season of promise to immortality, capturing the club’s second NBL Championship. In a series for the ages, they vanquished Melbourne United, securing the title in a decisive Game 5 at home, sending the WIN Entertainment Centre into raptures.

Individual Brilliance

‍While the Hawks have always been a team-first organisation, the club has been home to some of the league’s greatest individual talents. The history books show four players who have ascended to the level of league MVP: the electrifying Mike Jones (1981), the dynamic Gary Ervin (2010/11), the sharpshooting Rotnei Clarke (2013/14), and the defensive mastermind and scoring guard Kevin Lisch (2015/16).

The sidelines have been patrolled by some of the sharpest minds in the game, with Coach of the Year honours bestowed upon Dave Lindstrom (1987), Alan Black (1993), Gordie McLeod (2009/10), and most recently, the championship-winning Justin Tatum (2024/25).

Legends in the Rafters

‍History is remembered by the names that hang above the court. To date, five legends have had their numbers retired, their legacies woven permanently into the fabric of the club:

• #4 Chuck Harmison: The relentless import turned local icon.

• #5 Gordie McLeod: The maestro of Illawarra basketball.

• #12 Glen Saville: The championship winner, do-it-all forward and all time leader in Hawks games played.

• #32 Mat Campbell: The heart, soul, and saviour of the club.

• #33 Melvin Thomas: The versatile scorer and veteran leader.

Two titles. Five decades. One community. The Hawks fly on.

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