The 56-year-old from Melbourne is the most successful coach in the history of the Australian Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and led Australia to a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the silver in Sydney four years later.

 

At the Athens Games in 2004 he helped New Zealand to finish eighth, their highest ever finish, before arguably his greatest achievement, of taking the Chinese team from nowhere to fourth in Beijing.

 

Maher said: "Coaching a home nation is not something I dwell on.

 

"I'm sure some people might but for me it's just about trying the best you can do.

 

"I do that anyway.

 

"I think I just try as hard as I can."

 

Maher replaces Mark Clark, who resigned in February fter Britain's relegation from the top division of EuroBasket which has left the team's hopes of qualifying for London hanging by a thread.

 

The relegation came despite the sport receiving £8.7 million from UK Sport in December to help its preparations for London.

 

Maher said: "Taking the GB job was a no brainer really.

 

"Who wouldn't want the opportunity to coach a home nation at the Olympics, in a city I've spent almost no time in; it was an easy decision.

 

"Certainly the British team will be better.

 

"GB has made a lot of effort to improve, that much is clear and now I'm going to try as hard as I can.

 

"When it comes down to it you can only do your best and be proud of that."

 

With no competitive games this summer, Maher will instead have time to get to know the team, which includes Britain's most capped player of all time, Rose Mason, who is currently with French side Colomiers and 6'7" Sarah McKay, who is recovering from a sixth knee operation.

 

Maher, who is married to former Australian captain Robyn Maher, said: "I haven't seen any of the girls yet.

 

"I wouldn't say that's particularly daunting but it's going to be frustrating.

 

"GB has got to take gigantic steps.

 

"There's a difference between basketball and world basketball and that's key.

 

"It's little things like emotional advances which they have to make, but this is all part of the learning curve.

 

"The important thing to remember is that you don't make something happen overnight. I'm not expecting it to be all wonderful to begin with."

 

And despite the Ashes heading to Britain this summer and the Brits trumping the Australians at last year's Olympics, Maher insists he didn't even think about the sporting rivalry between the two nations when deciding about the job.

 

He said: "In Australia it's common for us to have foreign coaches.

 

"I remember the first time I went to an Olympic meeting before Athens half of the coaches were foreign, it's not unusual.

 

"I don't pay much attention to the other details.

 

"It doesn't change the fact that I want to do my best with this team and will do all that I can to be successful. We just expect to win."

 

Maher is currently with the Bulleen Boomers in the WNBL, a league he has won seven championships from seven Grand Final appearances, he has also coached in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics.

 

British Basketball performance drector Chris Spice said: "It goes without saying that to have someone of Tom's calibre commit to us should act as both a vote of confidence to the team but also demonstrate our programme's intent.