Mitchell Tenure Must be Classified as Success: Hooley

Once the first round of NBL24 kicks off the South East Melbourne Phoenix will have marked another milestone moment in their history. It will be the first time a head coach not named Simon Mitchell will lead the side.

Mitchell and the Phoenix announced the inaugural coach has elected not to renew his contract for the upcoming season, with the former Melbourne Tigers assistant citing a loss of joy in coaching as a key factor in his decision.

Former NBL champion Pete Hooley says Mitchell’s time in charge of South East Melbourne should be declared as an overall success.

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“What I would measure Simon Mitchell’s four years at the Phoenix is what he’s done off the court,” Hooley said on NBL Today.

“You look at the Phoenix and what they’ve done to grow back in the Heartland, the way he’s grown the support of the Phoenix, and look no further than the games they played at the State Basketball Centre – that place was literally vibrating with fans going crazy jumping in the stands.

“That all comes from what he’s done with the culture at the club, what he's done making sure everyone buys into that Heartland community, so it’s a success.”

The injuries suffered to South East Melbourne’s stars over the course of the NBL23 season have been well documented.

Between consistent injury issues to Ryan Broekhoff, Trey Kell and Gary Browne, the club only managed to start its preferred five players in half the games it played this season.

Across those 15 games the Phoenix ended with a 12-3 record.

Having made the post-season in two out of four seasons in charge, Hooley believes while the time is right for a change, Mitchell has laid a strong platform for future success.

“On the Simon Mitchell front the pressure was obviously building and to be honest I don’t think he deserved any of that when you look at what they’ve gone through,” he said.

“They had all those injuries to their big players and it was a tough slog in terms of him never having that full control over a healthy team. I think it’s a great opportunity for him to start fresh.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for a fresh start and, unfortunately, in this realm of professional sports when you have a team that on paper should be competing for a title and they fall short of that goal, a fresh start not a bad thing.”

The Phoenix have already begun their search for a new head coach to lead them into next season, and the rumour mill is already in overdrive as to who might replace Mitchell at the head of the snake.

While five-time NBL championship coach Trevor Gleeson and 2020 Coach of the Year Mike Kelly’s names have been thrown up, Hooley believes there would be a romanticism to the greatest NBL coach of all-time throwing his hat into the ring for the job.

“It’s that South East connection, and it depends what avenue they want to go down,” Hooley said of South East Melbourne’s links with Brian Goorjian.

“If that’s the way you want to go you put your eggs in one basket. You say ‘let’s load up and get that signature down, and then we’ll work backwards from there’.

“I’d be very surprised if something like that happens, but you can’t rule it out.”