Dewa United Banten officially appointed David Singleton as their head coach for the 2027 Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) season, securing the American coach to a one-year contract announced on Friday, October 2, 2026. Suara.com reported that the franchise brought in the coach to install a fast-paced offensive identity and shore up the team’s defensive structure. Saya awalnya tidak tahu apakah Dewa akan merekrut pelatih selain dari Amerika Latin!
Singleton remarked.
David Singleton Signed to a One-Year Contract
Michael Oliver Wellerz, CEO of Dewa United Basketball, confirmed during a press conference at the Dewa United Academy that the agreement spans a single season. “The coach’s contract with Dewa is for one year,” Wellerz said, as noted by Suara.com. The organization opted for Singleton due to his proven track record and deep familiarity with the domestic league.
Singleton will not work alone on the sideline. The club assigned three assistant coaches to support him: Yurifan Hosen, Andri Malay, and Gustas Maskoliunas, according to Suara.com.
Four Consecutive Coach of the Year Accolades
David Singleton brings an extensive résumé to Banten after working in Indonesian professional basketball since 2020. Suara.com noted that he guided Prawira Bandung to the IBL championship in 2023 and captured four consecutive IBL Coach of the Year awards from 2021 through 2024. He also previously coached Pelita Jaya Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA News and RRI.co.id. Dia merasa terhormat menjadi pelatih Amerika Serikat pertama yang memimpin Dewa United,
ANTARA News noted regarding his status as the historic first American head coach in the club’s history.
With this appointment, Singleton becomes the fifth foreign head coach in Dewa United’s history. The club’s previous foreign managers included Maximiliano Seigorman, Santiago Rimoldi, and Pablo Daniel Favarel from Argentina, alongside Agusti Julbe Bosch from Spain.
Fast-Paced System and Local Player Development
Addressing the media at his unveiling event titled “It’s Getting Re4l #AnakDewa,” Singleton emphasized his tactical priorities. “I am very attentive to systems and details. We are going to play fast. We are going to have fun,” he said, as quoted by Suara.com. He added that his teams must bring high energy and entertaining basketball to the fanbase.
RRI.co.id reported that Singleton also outlined a clear stance on roster composition and local talent development. “I do not believe Indonesia can develop if foreign players dominate the court. If there are too many foreign players, the chance for local players to show their ability eventually decreases,” Singleton stated. He noted that other international basketball programs rely on only one or two foreign players to accelerate domestic growth.
Reflecting on facing Dewa United as an opponent over the previous seasons, Singleton told ANTARA News that the experience gave him vital insight into the club’s culture. “After years of competing against Dewa, there are many lessons I’ve learned, both from wins and losses, but most importantly, I’ve come to understand the environment, the organization, the fans, and the strong culture of this club,” Singleton said. Singleton expressed optimism about bringing a repeat of the 2025 success when the club won the league.
Roster Balance of Veterans and Rising Stars
Dewa United maintains a roster blend of seasoned veterans and young talent. CEO Michael Oliver Wellerz confirmed to RRI.co.id that the domestic player core is complete and the front office is actively scouting two foreign players to fit Singleton’s tactical requirements.
Singleton stressed the importance of merging both age groups on the court. “We will and must rely on senior players, namely players who have won many titles and hold MVP labels. But now we also have to develop and give space to young players, then combine the two groups,” Suara.com reported.
Related reading
