Posted on Sunday, November 24th, 2019
Coaching Moves In Full Swing For 2020
With the 2020 Sal’s NBL schedule in place and player recruitment underway, the coaching merry-go-round is starting to crank up as teams start preparing for a busy few months ahead.
The Southland Sharks have taken the early running with news Rob Beveridge has signed on to coach, replacing Judd Flavell who has moved to Australia full-time.
Beveridge is a highly-decorated Australian coach with nearly three decades of experience, including a notable stint in the Australian NBL with the Illawarra Hawks. Spending his first days at ILT Stadium last week, Beveridge started his own big announcements with Jarrad Weeks confirmed to be returning.
When it comes to coaches, Beveridge won’t be the only new face in the league next season.
Changes will take place at the Wellington Saints and Hawke’s Bay Hawks where Paul Henare (Saints) and Zico Coronel (Hawks) both recently confirmed they won’t be returning.
In a twist, Coronel has moved to the Saints to lead the team in its attempt for a three-peat, replacing Henare who has moved to Japan for his next coaching opportunity.
The Hawks have since made their own coaching announcement, replacing Coronel with Irishman Daniel Nelson, who heads to Hawke's Bay after a number of international posts.
The election of Dave Bublitz to the local council in New Plymouth will likely see the popular coach step down from his post at the Taranaki Mountainairs. News on his replacement is believed to be imminent.
Elsewhere, the Nelson Giants are yet to confirm a coach for 2020, however Mike Fitchett is expected to return after recently announcing he and his family were moving back to the region on a permanent basis.
Coaches under existing contracts include Mick Downer (Canterbury Rams) and Tim McTamney (Manawatu Jets) who will both be on duty again, leaving only the Franklin Bulls to appoint a head coach for their inaugural season.
A number of coaching names have been floated with the Bulls, however no decisions have been made yet.
2020 Sal's NBL Head Coaches
Mick Downer (Canterbury Rams)
Rob Beveridge (Southland Sharks)
Zico Coronel (Wellington Saints)
Daniel Nelson (Hawke's Bay Hawks)
Tim McTamney (Manawatu Jets)
To Be Confirmed (Taranaki Mountanairs)
To Be Confirmed (Nelson Giants)
To Be Confirmed (Franklin Bulls)
