# Ryan Petrik

Ryan Petrik (born 4 March 1981) is an Australian basketball coach who currently serves as head coach of the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Prior to becoming head coach of the Lynx in 2020, Petrik led the Rockingham Flames women's team in the State Basketball League (SBL) to two championships in 2014 and 2015 and earned SBL Coach of the Year honours in 2012. Between 2015 and 2020, he served as an assistant coach with the Lynx, and between 2019 and 2024, he served as head coach of the Flames men's team. In 2022, he was named the WNBL Coach of the Year and guided the Flames men to the NBL1 West championship and NBL1 National championship.

## Early life

Petrik was born and bred in the Perth suburb of Rockingham, Western Australia.

## Coaching career
### Rockingham Flames

Petrik began his coaching career with the Rockingham Flames men's team in the State Basketball League (SBL). He served as the assistant coach of the men's team for four years before being elevated to head coach of the women's team for the 2009 season. In his first season as head coach, he led the team to one of their best ever performances with a third-place finish and a 15–7 record with no imports and just one national league player. The 2010 season saw the Flames women finish in second place with a 16–6 record while the 2011 season saw them finish last with a 2–20 record.
In 2012, Petrik guided the Flames to the grand final, where they lost to the South West Slammers. For the season, Petrik was named the SBL Coach of the Year. In 2014, the Flames finished first with a 20–2 record and returned to the grand final. There they defeated the Lakeside Lightning to claim their maiden SBL championship. In 2015, the Flames finished as minor premiers for the second straight year, once again with a 20–2 record. They made their way through to another grand final, where they defeated the Willetton Tigers to win back-to-back championships.
Following the 2018 season, Petrik made the switch from coach of the women's team to coach of the men's team for the 2019 season. He returned as men's coach in 2020 for the West Coast Classic.
In 2021, Petrik guided the men's team to their first ever grand final in the inaugural NBL1 West season, where they lost 92–82 to the Perry Lakes Hawks. In 2022, he guided the team to another grand final appearance and their first ever championship, defeating the Geraldton Buccaneers 91–79. At the 2022 NBL1 National Finals, the team was crowned national champions after defeating the Frankston Blues in the championship game. Returning to the Flames for the 2023 NBL1 West season, he guided the team to first place in the regular season with a 19–3 record before losing to the Joondalup Wolves in the preliminary final. At the 2023 NBL1 National Finals, the team reached the grand final where they lost 90–85 to the Knox Raiders.
In October 2023, Petrik signed a two-year deal with the Flames to remain as men's head coach until the end of 2025. He was subsequently appointed in a dual role as the Flames' high performance manager.

### Perth Lynx

In June 2015, Petrik was appointed an assistant coach to the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).
In June 2020, after five seasons as an assistant under Andy Stewart, Petrik was appointed head coach of the Lynx on a two-year deal. His debut season as coach was in the WNBL's Hub season in Queensland due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lynx finished the season in seventh place with a 4–9 record.
In the 2021–22 season, Petrik was named the WNBL Coach of the Year after guiding the Lynx to second place with an 11–5 record. They went on to reach the WNBL Grand Final, where they lost the series 2–1 to the Melbourne Boomers.
On 30 May 2022, Petrik re-signed as coach of the Lynx on a multi-year contract.
In the 2023–24 season, the Lynx finished in fourth place with an 11–10 record and defeated the first-placed Townsville Fire in the semi-finals to reach their second grand final series in three years. They went on to lose the grand final 2–1 to the Southside Flyers.
On 4 July 2024, Petrik re-signed as coach of the Lynx for the 2024–25 WNBL season.

## Personal life

Petrik's father was president of Rockingham Basketball during the 1990s.
In 2019, Petrik married Women's SBL player Chelsea Armstrong. The couple had their first child in April 2021.