Essex Rebels appoint Tor Freeman as Women’s Basketball Head Coach
The Essex Rebels have appointed one of British basketball’s top young coaching talents as the new Head Coach of the Women’s Super League Basketball team.
Tor Freeman has quickly established himself as a rising star in the sport since launching his coaching career in 2019. The award-winning coach joins the Rebels after masterminding a history-making season at Anglia Ruskin University, leading the team to its first title in five years. He will now look to build on the most successful period in Essex Rebels women’s history.
Last season saw the team record its highest-ever league finish, taking third place and securing the programme’s first home play-off quarter-final. Freeman succeeds Ashley Cookson, who made the difficult decision to return to Canada as his wife pursues a new career opportunity.
The Essex Rebels’ season gets underway on 5 October with an away trip to Scotland, where Freeman will make his debut with a new-look Rebels team. They return home on 10 October for their first home game of the season at the Essex Sport Arena, where they will face Freeman’s former club, the Leicester Riders.
Coach Freeman said:
“I’m really excited to be joining Essex. The opportunity to coach in the SLBW is something I’m really looking forward to. I can’t wait to get on the court with the players and begin pre-season preparations. What’s most exciting though is the strong fanbase that Rebels have built, the first home game of the season is going to be such a great experience especially for myself and the new players!”
Freeman’s coaching journey began with the Oaklands Wolves, where he quickly made his mark in the junior ranks. He initially worked with the U14s before progressing to the U16s in 2021, when his early success was recognised by UK Coaching, which named him Young Coach of the Year.
Freeman stepped into the senior game in 2022 as an assistant to Oaklands Wolves Women’s Head Coach Lee Ryan. The role gave him experience in the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL), now Super League Basketball, and marked a major step in his coaching career.
Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Freeman was appointed Division One Head Coach of the Loughborough Riders. Alongside the role, he took charge of Loughborough University’s BUCS 2 programme and worked as an assistant to Ben Stanley with the Leicester Riders.
Freeman then joined Anglia Ruskin University as Head Coach at the beginning of the 2025/26 season. He led the team to its first play-off title since 2019, beating London Cavaliers 78-56 in the British WNBL Division One play-off final.
Dave Parry, Director of Sport at the University of Essex, said:
“Tor is one of the most exciting young coaches in British basketball and we’re delighted to bring him to Essex. He has already shown he can build successful teams, develop players and win, and we believe he is the right person to take the programme forward. Ashley leaves the women’s team in a fantastic position after a record-breaking season and Tor now has the opportunity to build on those foundations. We have big ambitions for the Rebels and I’m looking forward to seeing Tor put his own stamp on the team as we prepare for another exciting Super League Basketball season.”
Tickets for the season are on sale now on Fanbase.
