Beginnings

Bob served as the head coach of the NSW under 18 men’s team at the National Championships from 1965 to 1968 and later as the head coach of the NSW women’s team, which became Australian Champions in 1975. Elphinston was also an inaugural board member of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1979 and contributed to the establishment of the Bankstown Basketball Stadium in 1976. He worked closely with Bankstown Council and Councillor Ern Vine to secure funding from the NSW State Government for the stadium’s construction, which played a crucial role in the development of basketball in the local community.

Achievements

Bob was the founding Director of the NBL and managed the Australian men’s basketball team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. In 2006, he was elected president of the International Basketball Federation, serving until 2010. He attended five summer Olympics and three winter Olympics, serving as the men’s national team manager on 38 occasions. In 1991, he was appointed general manager for the Sydney Olympics 2000 bid company, which successfully secured Sydney as the host city for the 2000 Olympics. He was the former secretary general of the Australian Olympic Committee. Bob was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2006 as a general member for his contributions to sport administration. In 2002, he was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Post Representation

Up until 2019 Bob was still a Chair Person for Basketball NSW and contributing to the future of basketball, however he has since retired.