Overwhelming Interest Driving Phoenix Head Coach Hunt

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

South East Melbourne Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer confirms the search for the head coach position is underway, and reveals they have been “overwhelmed with the amount of interest”.

South East Melbourne Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer has confirmed the club's search for a new head coach is well underway after the departure of Simon Mitchell a fortnight ago.

Mitchell is currently the only person to have taken the head coaching reigns at the Phoenix, having possessed the job since the club's introduction into the league. Given the strong position the former coach departed the club in Greer says there is "overwhelming interest" in the now vacant position.

Greer revealed the club has a plan of attack for finding the right person to lead the Phoenix into the next stage of ther development.

“We’ve now started that process of searching for our next head coach,” he said on The Basketball Show.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of interest. I think it’s a real credit to where the club is at, the amount of high-level interest that we’ve had in the role.

“Our plan is to keep those expressions of interest open through the majority of March. Then we will shortlist, and by early April when free agency will be commencing is when we will be looking to secure that head coach and announce it publicly,” he said.

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Greer - much like Mitchell - has been with the Phoenix since day one. After a successful playing career with the Melbourne Tigers that resulted in two championships he was elevated to the CEO position ahead of South East Melbourne's inaugural campaign.

Prior to that he was the club's general manager.

He says he's prepared to take more responsibility until the club finds its new coach.

“Going into this year I’m going to take a more hands-on approach, at least for the first month or so of the offseason.”

After a late-season capitulation ruined South East Melbourne's Playoff hopes in NBL22, they rebounded to take part in the competition's first ever Play-In Qualifier in NBL 23, but they were defeated by Bryce Cotton and Brady Manek led Perth side.

Greer remains confident in the roster's ability to bring home a title.

“We remain incredibly confident. If you have a look at the rosters we’ve put together over the last couple of years, we’re very confident that we’re going to be able to bring together something that’s going to be there and competing next year,” Greer said.

Read more: Greer Update on Head Coach Search