The Canberra Capitals would still employ Carrie Graf as head coach even if she became the Opals' new coach, chief executive Mark Cartwright said yesterday.
Graf is the favourite to replace Jan Stirling as Australian coach later this year after the incumbent stepped down from the role after the Olympics.
Graf still has one year remaining on her contract with the Capitals but hopes to extend that at the end of the looming WNBL season.
If she is appointed as Stirling's replacement later this year, Graf believed she could juggle both roles without jeopardising either teams' development.
Cartwright yesterday gave the all-clear for the Canberra coach to pursue her dream with the Opals.
''We perceive her as the best female coach in Australia, we've tried to build a program over the past decade on being the best and setting new standards and Carrie fits nicely in that mould,'' Cartwright said.
''In my mind we'd like to keep Carrie involved as our head coach. We can put together a model where she can do both.
''I know her work ethic and I know she will still have a lot to offer the Capitals, even if she is head coach of the Opals.''
Basketball Australia will call for applications for the Opals job once it finishes its review of the Olympic campaign, which netted a silver medal.
Graf has long had the goal of becoming the Australian coach.
She worked as an assistant under Tom Maher for six years from 1995 and since then has coached in both the WNBL and WNBA.
Her coaching record in Australia is unparalleled.
In her 10 seasons as a WNBL head coach with the Sydney Flames (1993 to 96) and Capitals (1999-00 to 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2005-06 to present) Graf has made the play-offs every year.
She has won five titles as a coach. Internationally, she spent time as head coach of the New Zealand Tall Ferns in 2003-04 and is the only Australian woman to coach in the WNBA, where she led the Phoenix Mercury.
But it's the Opals where Graf wants to be most of all.
''Everyone knows I'm here putting my hand up, I'd love to have that job and I'll be doing everything I can to try and get it,'' she said.
''I'd like to think I could do both the Caps and the Opals. While I'm obviously keen for the Australian gig, for me personally there are still a lot of things I want to achieve with the Caps and I just hope other parties are open to that.''
Stirling and current Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian both held club jobs at times during their national duties.
Former Capitals and Opals coach Tom Maher, whose contract with the Chinese national team expired at the end of the Olympics and current Opals assistant Gary Fox are shaping as Graf's major rivals for the Australian job.
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