REPORT: United pivot in coaching search

It appears Melbourne United’s search for a new Head Coach will drag out even further, after their reported main target has decided to take up another European position.

According to ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, former NBA Head Coach Dave Joerger, who was reportedly at the top of United’s list, appears set to be appointed to the vacant Paris Basketball position.

“United sent people over to Treviso [for the 2026 adidas Eurocamp], where Joerger was, in order to speak with him,” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

“The feeling was, they're sending him over, and they're going to come back with a signed contract. That was the feeling.

“[But] you speak to people around the European scene, they would tell you that the feeling on their end is that Dave Joerger is probably going to head to Paris Basketball.

“It seemed like those [were his] options, and that was the decision for Dave Joerger.

“Do I go to Melbourne United? He's wanted to be in Australia for a little bit, and he was among the candidates for the Boomers' job before they picked Adam Caporn a couple of years ago.

“But he’s also been courted by Paris Basketball for a good amount of time. David Kahn in Paris has wanted him for a while, and it sounds like ultimately, because Joerger wants to get back to the NBA, [he’ll end up in Paris].

“Two of the last three head coaches at Paris Basketball were NBA head coaches, and we include Tiago Splitter in that, so there is a legitimate pathway from Paris Basketball to the NBA.”

As such, Uluc explained that United now have to quickly shift its focus to another target.

“This [Joerger decision] has required a pivot from United, and one name I'm told they've shown interest in is Francesco Tabellini,” Uluc said.

“He was the former head coach of Paris, and it seems, right now, everything for some reason revolves around Paris.

“He was let go from that team in the middle of last season, but he’s a high-quality Head Coach.

“Whether his style of play, which is very much like Josh King’s, very up and in and very fast, meshes with what United has, I'm not so sure, as it’s an older team.

“That's someone who I know they've spoken to, but it's a very awkward time for United to be searching for a coach because all the good coaches that they could potentially be chasing are now signed and contracted.

“So who's left? There are the people in the box, and now you're sort of looking on the fringes and edges of that box.

“It becomes much more difficult, and I don't know a Head Coach search that has gone too much longer than this.

“[For example] when Mahmoud Abelfattah joined Sydney, he was hired on June 15, and that was a late signing.

“We're at a point right now where they've got to get a move on.”

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Fellow panellist Pete Hooley appreciates that United is taking their time in replacing three-time NBL champion Dean Vickerman.

“The key here, going back to the conversations we had at this desk around Gordon Herbert, the coaching landscape can change very quickly,” Hooley said.

“When I was reporting about Dave Joerger, and Olgun added how Jacob Chance and Coby Karl have been interviewed, they [United] had their list, and they were doing their due diligence.

“They didn't want to rush the Head Coaching position, which you do not want to do after Dean Vickerman, who is such a successful piece of Melbourne United’s history, has moved on.

“Then you finalise who your main target is, which clearly was Dave Joerger, and try to make that happen.

“It looked like for a [moment] there that it was very likely to happen, but then as soon as something else pops up, which is maybe the job that Dave Joerger has been waiting for, you've got to pivot very quickly.

“[Things] can change very rapidly in professional basketball.”

Despite this apparent setback, Uluc said United will continue to pursue proven coaches, such as Tabellini.

“United have such a strong foundation, and they're such a big club in such a big city that I don't know if going and getting that first-time Head Coach is the way for them,” Uluc said.

“I think they, especially with the roster they have, which is led by two veterans in Chris Goulding and Joe Ingles, need someone who's relatively experienced.”

Melbourne currently has Joe Ingles, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Sam Waardenburg, Fabijan Krslovic, Kyle Bowen, Dash Daniels and Malith Machar as rostered players for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season.