Palmer's role will include overseeing Knox Basketball's schools program and developing local coaches.

Palmer will also work as director of coaching for the Senior Raiders group, and assist in the development and identification of player talent within Knox Basketball.

Palmer was coach of the North Melbourne Giants when they won the NBL championship in 1989. Current Knox Basketball chairman Wayne Carroll and Knox Raiders coach Graham Longstaff were part of that winning combination.

Since his NBL days, Palmer has maintained an interest in basketball. He has also been chief executive officer of Springboard, which finds residential out-of-home care for traumatised children.

In the meantime, Knox Basketball has reappointed Longstaff and Heath Anderson respectively as senior head coaches of the Knox Ford Raiders men's and women's teams in the South East Australian Basketball League for 2010.

In four seasons, Longstaff has won three championships and is the club's most successful senior coach ever. Anderson will enter his third season as the head coach of the SEABL women's team, with the team going down in this year's grand final against Brisbane's Lady Spartans.

Knox Basketball chief executive Simon Brookhouse said he was pleased to have secured the services of both coaches for the 2010 season. The SEABL season will tip-off in early March. Both coaches are looking to start preseason training in December.