Saint-Quentin to turn the page on five exceptional years with Julien Mahé

[Update] Saint-Quentin Basketball has officially announced the departure of coach Julien Mahé (41) at the end of the 2024-2025 season.

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗤𝗨𝗘́ 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗟

After 5 highly successful seasons as head coach, Julien Mahé has activated his release clause and will no longer be Saint-Quentin Basketball’s coach next season. We wish him the best in his future career. pic.twitter.com/awrBPgZtr5

— Saint-Quentin Basket Ball (@SQBB_Officiel) April 8, 2025

[Original article] Saint-Quentin Basketball will announce the departure of coach Julien Mahé (41) this Tuesday, April 8. The Breton coach, whose name is often linked to Nanterre for the coming season, will activate his release clause allowing him to leave the club on June 30, 2025.

Exceptional consistency, even in Betclic ELITE

Hired on February 5, 2020, when SQBB was second-to-last in Pro B, he completely transformed the Picardy club. In 2020-2021, Saint-Quentin finished third in the division while revealing Parker Jackson-Cartwright (5’11 », 29) and Hugo Besson (6’4″, 23). But this magnificent season wasn’t a one-shot.

Despite roster changes and a very difficult start (17th after 13 games), the club made some changes and finished strong, again reaching third place in the regular season. While playoffs were missed (eliminated in two games by Vichy-Clermont), in 2022-2023, SQBB under Julien Mahé skipped them entirely. His team led the way to claim the Pro B championship and bring the club to the top national division for the first time.

At this level, despite inexperience, Saint-Quentin surprised everyone. Led by its iron defense, the Picardy team reached sixth place in the championship to secure the Leaders Cup, playoffs, and BCL qualification. Once again, despite ups and downs, Saint-Quentin managed to stand out in European Cup while staying in the top half of the Betclic ELITE table.

A coach appreciated by young players’ representatives

Julien Mahé’s tenure at Saint-Quentin will be marked by success but especially exceptional consistency, despite roster changes inherent to a club with a limited budget. Moreover, the former coach of Chalon-sur-Saône (Élan and Chalon BC), Dijon, and Gravelines-Dunkerque has won over representatives of young French talents for knowing how to empower and develop potential such as Hugo Besson, Melvin Ajinca, and Nolan Traoré. Enough to capitalize on this image of a tough but formative coach to attract a bigger-budget club wanting to build on youth, like Nanterre for example…