THE 2017 Women's SBL season hasn’t started how Cockburn Cougars coach John Triscari envisioned, but he remains as passionate and dedicated to achieving success and building a strong program as ever.

Triscari took over as Cougars women's coach last year after previous roles with the Rockingham Flames and Mandurah Magic, and in wheelchair basketball highlighted by the WNWBL championship with the Western Stars in 2013 and silver medal with the Australian Gliders at the 2012 London Paralympics.

With the experience he has and the respect he has earned both in the SBL and in wheelchair basketball, it would be easy for Triscari to think his methods are tried and tested, and to rule with an iron fist.

But to his great credit, he is looking to learn and grow as a coach all the time, and in turn he has no doubt that makes him a better coach and makes any team he is in charge of better.

He remains as passionate and committed to growing himself as a coach. That's why he is as focused on achieving success with the Cougars in the SBL as he ever has been.

Cockburn has lost its opening four games of the 2017 season against the Joondalup Wolves, Willetton Tigers, Perry Lakes Hawks and Stirling Senators. The fact all four of those teams look like being genuine contenders this season can't be overlooked.

The Cougars do have a squad that looks capable of still having a good season following the arrivals of Brianna Moyes, Kersten Mitchell, Steph Jones, Talisia Bourne and Lizel Buckley with a second import to soon be unveiled.

With Chelsea Evans, Isabelle Miotti, Kirsty and Nicole Pitcher, Nicole Roberts, Taryn Priestly and Vanessa Michael remaining as well, that's a good core group Triscari has to work with as they chase that first victory Thursday at Wally Hagan Stadium against the undefeated Mandurah Magic.

When Triscari moved away from the SBL to coach wheelchair basketball, he didn’t know if he would be back in the league but he had always admired Cockburn from afar.

That's why when the job came up at the end of 2015 following the departure of Deanna Smith, he put his hand up and in his second season, is confident of what they can achieve despite the slow start.

"I had always wanted to coach at this club because I liked the atmosphere that is generated here, I liked the character of the people and they are just fighters," Triscari said.

"I think the women's team can punch above their weight like the men did last year because of those characteristics. We can only hope we have the same sort of success.

"I'm super excited about what this season holds for us because the depth that we've got and the fact that players want to be here. I think that this club is moving in the right direction as well.

"Down the track hopefully we are going to be a force in this league and we would have developed our young players to a higher standard. That's my goal."

Triscari's passion for basketball remains as strong as ever and that's why he was so keen on the Cougars job 18 months ago, and why he remains committed to trying create something memorable.

"I thought a couple of years ago that this was it for me after the Australian job, but the passion's still there and I'm extremely lucky to have an incredibly supportive partner," he said.

"We've been together for 15 years and that support helps me to continue. I'd like to win an SBL championship and that would be a legacy I'd like to leave, but I still live for the game and I love it."

Every day Triscari is looking for new ways to improve the way he coaches and find avenues to make his team better.

For someone with his experience, that has to be admired and that's why he will always think he is a better coach today than he was yesterday.

"There are so many things that this game offers and I remember Jan Stirling saying to me when I was coaching the Australian side that we are privileged to be coaching," Triscari said.

"You get to mould people into upstanding human beings in the community and part of my background is in education and that's what I love about this game. It has been really good to me as well. I have visited lots of countries and done a lot of stuff.

"I've made some great friendships and Mark Utley is one of them. I still talk with him probably twice a week and he is enjoying coaching wheelchairs now. I still bounce ideas off him from things I saw him run at Rockingham and it's great to have built friendships like that over the years.

"The internet is also a great thing and I learn stuff off there all the time. If I had that 20 or more years ago, I would have been a much better coach. The yeller and screamer has gone now because that's not conducive to young people learning."