The Tasmania JackJumpers have announced Jacob Chance will join the club as the Lead Assistant Coach for their inaugural season in NBL22.

 Chance has been the Assistant Coach of the Perth Wildcats since 2019, playing a key role in the club’s 2020 NBL championship. He started working with the Wildcats in 2015 as Video Coordinator and Development Coach.

Chance was also instrumental in building the Perth Wildcats Academy, a pathway for West Australian players aged 16 and over. This was done in conjunction with Basketball WA and saw multiple athletes join the Wildcats roster, development squad or practice sessions. Chance hopes to bring initiatives and programs like this to the local basketball community in Tasmania.

Chance and JackJumpers Head Coach Scott Roth worked together at Perth from 2019-2021.

Chance said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Tasmania JackJumpers as they prepare for their inaugural NBL season.

 “To be a part of something new and build a club from the ground up is such an exciting opportunity and one I’m looking forward to. I also can’t wait to work with Scott Roth again as we look to lead a team that will make all Tasmanians proud.

 “I also want to thank the Perth Wildcats for everything they’ve done for me since 2015. To be a part of such a historic franchise has been an absolute honour and I have learnt so much from the unbelievable staff and players in Perth over the years and cannot thank them enough.

“Perth will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to the battles we have against them in the future.”

Roth said: “Jacob is one of the hardest working coaches in Australia and I’m delighted to have him on board with the JackJumpers.

“Having been involved in four championships at the Wildcats, Jacob will bring championship pedigree to Tasmania as we look to establish a winning and successful culture.

 “I also look forward to helping Jacob advance his individual skills as he continues to grow as a coach. He has all the tools to become a future head coach in the NBL and I want our team at the JackJumpers to help him eventually achieve that goal.

“Jacob has been a major factor in Perth’s successful player development program, as players such as Luke Travers, Corey Shervill, Todd Blanchfield and Clint Steindl have grown immensely under Jacob’s tutelage. Those player development skills will be critical to us here at the JackJumpers as we march into our inaugural NBL season.”

The JackJumpers have also appointed Jack Fleming as Third Assistant Coach and Mark Chivers as Team Manager.