Prominent basketball coach and father of Australian NBL star arrested and charged with child sex offences in Brisbane
The father of a current Australian NBL player has been arrested and charged with child sex offences in Brisbane on Friday.
Donald Robert McCarron, a 67-year-old former basketball coach with the Northside Wizards, has been charged with seven counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of grooming a child under 16.
The charges follow a report received by police on January 19, 2025, alleging abuse that occurred between 2013 and 2017.
McCarron, the father of NBL star Mitch McCarron, was arrested at his Mango Hill residence on Thursday and appeared briefly in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
He did not appear in person and was represented by Legal Aid duty lawyer Lana Millar.
Police allege that McCarron exploited his position as a basketball coach to groom a female child before she turned 16 and committed offences against her in the years following.
National Basketball League star Mitch McCarron (left) with his father Donald McCarron in 2014
The alleged offences occurred at various locations.
Magistrate Ross Mack granted McCarron bail under strict conditions, including no contact with the complainant or witnesses, no international travel, adherence to an evening curfew, and reporting to Mango Hill police station twice a week.
McCarron’s passport was surrendered as a condition of his release.
Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Lunney, Officer in Charge of Gateway CPIU, urged anyone with further information or similar experiences to come forward.
‘There may be someone out there with more information that could assist this investigation, and we encourage you to come forward,’ Detective Senior Sergeant Lunney said.
Northside Basketball CEO Mark Wrobel confirmed that McCarron had been employed by the organisation from 2013 to 2024, coaching numerous teams during that period.
He resigned from his role in August 2024.
‘The charges raised in court on 31 January 2025 have deeply shocked our community,’ Wrobel told News Corp.
Donald McCarron worked for the Northside Wizards in Brisbane before resigning in 2024
‘We take these matters with the utmost seriousness and are fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.’
Northside Basketball has established a dedicated counseling service for past and present members affected by the situation.
‘To support our community during this difficult time, we have established a dedicated counselling service, available to both past and present members, on 1300 407 340,’ Wrobel said.
‘We thank our members for their understanding and support as we navigate this challenging
McCarron has a long history in basketball, having played in NSW and coached at various levels throughout his career.
He joined Northside Wizards in a part-time capacity before transitioning to a full-time role.
The matter has been adjourned to February 17, 2025.
