He replaces Brian Goorjian.

Basketball Australia chairman David Thodey made the announcement today, saying the 48-year-old American, who has worked with the Spurs in the NBA for six years and is a former assistant with the Australian Boomers, offered "fresh energy and new ideas."

Thodey said: "The Basketball Australia board is extremely proud of the performance of the Boomers in Beijing and recognises the positive building blocks that have been put in place by Brian Goorjian for the Boomers' future.

"But we opened the door to the possibility of change after two Olympic cycles and with our sport moving forward in an exciting new direction we decided to utilise Brett Brown's fresh energy and new ideas."

Goorjian had 77 wins and 43 losses as national coach between 2002 and 2008, including the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, where the team reached the quarter-finals before losing to the United States, eventual gold medallists, 116-85.

Australia is ninth in the FIBA men's world rankings.

Goorijan said: "I've known Brett for a long time.

"He's a great coach and a good person and I wish him every success with the national programme."

Brown was an assistant coach with the Australian team between 1995 and 2003.

He has also worked in Australia's NBL, as head coach of the Melbourne Giants from 1993-1998 and the Sydney Kings from 2000-2002.

He was the NBL's coach of the year in 1994, when the Giants won the championship.