NBL coaches state of play, where NBL coaches will go next season, Dean Vickerman linked overseas, news, highlights

With six teams now eliminated from contention in NBL26, attention quickly turns to the sidelines.

We take a look at each of the six eliminated clubs, examining whether their current coach will return, whether there are reports of potential replacements, or if a change could be on the horizon.

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With the NBL continuing to grow in reputation and quality, both players and coaches have become highly valued commodities. That means opportunities from overseas leagues – often with bigger financial incentives – are always a possibility and can quickly reshape the coaching landscape.

Here’s where the coaches of the six eliminated teams currently stand.

MELBOURNE UNITED (20-13) – DEAN VICKERMAN

Melbourne United’s NBL26 campaign came to an end after a 95-77 loss to the Perth Wildcats in the Play-In game, with the winner advancing to a semi-final series against the Sydney Kings.

For United, it was a season that promised plenty early. After suffering back-to-back Grand Final series defeats in the previous two seasons, Melbourne opened NBL26 in dominant fashion – winning their first nine games and eventually reaching a league-best 13-2 record.

From there, however, the momentum shifted. United lost 12 of their final 20 regular-season games and entered the finals as the fifth seed.

They managed to keep their season alive by defeating the Tasmania JackJumpers in an elimination game before falling to the Wildcats, bringing their campaign to a close.

For head coach Dean Vickerman, the season delivered just about everything. A scorching start, a difficult stretch following the FIBA break, injuries across the roster and even a ruptured abdomen meant the campaign was far from straightforward.

Speaking after the loss to Perth, Vickerman summed up the rollercoaster season in just a few words.

“I’m proud of our group and it’s one of those years where we had the highest highs with the way that we started, and we had some pretty bad lows and we got back to this point where everyone was on the same page,” Vickerman said.

However, Vickerman’s own future has become a talking point. It was reported on NBL Marketplace that the championship-winning coach could potentially explore opportunities overseas after spending nearly a decade with the club.

“Let’s preface this by saying this is something that had been on the rumour mill a few years ago, that Dean Vickerman may be open to potential Asian opportunity, potentially in Japan,” Olgun Uluc said on NBL Marketplace.

“We’ve seen a lot of high-level Australian and Kiwi coaches go to Japan, so that is important to note.

“Now, in this instance, there are Japanese teams who are interested in Dean Vickerman and from what I understand, he has expressed that he is open to that opportunity once this season ends.

“Again, this isn’t particularly new information; this has happened in the past,” Uluc said.

“But this isn’t just a case of Japanese teams, for example, showing interest in a high-level coach in Dean Vickerman. It’s someone like Vickerman saying, ‘What else do I have to achieve here?’”

The question is understandable.

Vickerman has already won two NBL Championships with United, claimed three Coach of the Year awards and built one of the most consistent winning records in the league during his tenure since the 2017–18 season. Financially, overseas opportunities – particularly in Japan – can also be extremely lucrative.

For Pete Hooley, the discussion around what comes next for Vickerman is a legitimate one.

“This is one of the greatest coaches we’ve seen,” Hooley said.

“What does he want to aspire to next? We know the Boomers program being part of that was next on that checklist.

“But lost back-to-back championship series, I’m sure that would have maybe changed the timeline a little bit. But he’s won championships here.

“He’s gone back, he’s gone through the pathway to get to one of the most well-respected voices we’ve ever seen standing on a sideline.”

Despite the speculation, Vickerman remaining at Melbourne United still appears the most likely scenario if he decides not to pursue an overseas move – something that has reportedly been on the table for several years.

However, if the position were to become available, it would quickly become one of the most sought-after coaching jobs in the NBL.

Assistant coach Rhys Carter, who stepped in as acting head coach for two games while Vickerman recovered from abdomen surgery earlier in the season, could also emerge as an internal option should the club need to look for a replacement.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS (14-19) – SCOTT ROTH

Similar to Dean Vickerman, Scott Roth is a coach whose name continues to draw attention from leagues around the world.

As the foundation head coach of the Tasmania JackJumpers, Roth has built one of the most respected programs in the NBL while also creating a style and identity that has captured the attention of basketball fans across Australia.

In a state that prides itself on backing its own, Roth arrived as an outsider but quickly united the island. The JackJumpers have become the hottest ticket in town, building a passionate following and establishing a culture centred around toughness, pride and representing Tasmania.

Through relentless work, dedication and a commitment to defending “the island”, Roth has consistently found players who embody that identity. Year after year, the JackJumpers have punched above their weight while remaining one of the most competitive teams in the league.

With one year remaining on his contract and speculation around his future continuing to circulate, Roth addressed the talk following Tasmania’s season-ending loss to Melbourne United.

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve been lucky enough – I don’t know why – ’cause I am a crappy coach at the end of the day. And it amazes me a tad,” Roth said.

“But, you know, every year, I’ve gotten tremendous offers to go some other places. I have another year in my contract and I’ll be back to open up that high-performance centre in Tasmania.

“The money can wait to go chase that. I can do that anytime I want to but I plan on being back.”

In sport, some partnerships simply feel right — and the relationship between Roth and the JackJumpers is one of them.

For Tasmania fans, there is little reason to worry. One of the NBL’s most respected coaches has made it clear he intends to return and continue building the program he helped create.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS (13-20) – PETTERI KOPONEN

For the New Zealand Breakers, NBL26 was a season that started with plenty of questions but ended by proving their best was capable of matching any team in the league.

Despite a difficult campaign overall, the Breakers closed their season by winning the first Ignite Cup in league history – a significant achievement that provided a bright moment in an otherwise challenging year. Shortly after, however, the club confirmed that head coach Petteri Koponen would depart the organisation.

In a statement released by Breakers President of Basketball Operations Dillon Boucher, he addressed Koponen’s departure and the circumstances surrounding it.

“Petteri is a young coach on the rise and we support his desire to pursue opportunities closer to home,” Boucher said.

“Professional coaching at this level demands immense sacrifice, especially half a world away from home. We’ve reached a mutual agreement that the time is right for Petteri to pursue his next professional challenge. He departs with his mana higher than ever and will always hold a permanent place within our Breakers whānau.”

Koponen also released a statement reflecting on his time with the club and the connection he formed with New Zealand during his tenure.

“My time in New Zealand has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. I fell in love with this country and the incredible community that supports the Breakers,” Koponen said.

“However, after two seasons of intense growth in the NBL, and the immense satisfaction of bringing the Ignite Cup to Auckland, I am ready for a new challenge. I want to thank the Club, the players, and the fans for embracing me. I am proud of the culture we’ve built, and I leave with the highest respect for this club.”

Koponen leaves the Breakers with a 23-39 record across his two seasons as head coach. With his departure confirmed, the organisation will now turn its attention to identifying the next leader of the program.

One name that could immediately come into consideration is current Breakers assistant and Tall Blacks head coach Judd Flavell. Another potential option could be Perth Wildcats assistant Aaron Young if the club opts to continue looking within the New Zealand basketball ecosystem.

Former Breakers head coach Mody Maor may also emerge as a possibility. Maor departed the club two seasons ago and was previously linked to the Brisbane Bullets head coaching position.

While the Breakers will likely take their time in making the decision, Flavell appears to be the early frontrunner to take over the role.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS (13-20) – JUSTIN TATUM

After being crowned NBL25 champions, hopes of a repeat looked strong for the Illawarra Hawks – especially following the headline signing of JaVale McGee joining the defending champions. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the season didn’t unfold the way they had hoped.

Illawarra was hit by a number of key departures and injuries that significantly altered the makeup of their roster. The losses of Trey Kell, Lachlan Olbrich and Darius Days removed important pieces from the championship group, particularly the playmaking partnership Kell shared with Tyler Harvey that proved so crucial the season before.

Early momentum was also halted by injury, with Will Hickey going down at the start of the season and disrupting the Hawks’ rhythm before they could fully settle.

For head coach Justin Tatum, it was a season filled with frustration. The fiery coach picked up multiple technical fouls throughout the year and was vocal on several occasions about officiating and league decisions while defending his players.

Following last season’s championship run, there were reports that Tatum had drawn NBA interest and could potentially explore opportunities elsewhere. While those opportunities may still exist, it appears unlikely that he would leave the Hawks after a challenging season in which the team fell short of expectations.

At their best, Illawarra still showed they could compete with the top teams in the league, but consistency proved to be the major issue throughout the year.

Looking ahead, the Hawks still have a strong core of local talent in place. Tyler Harvey remains contracted for next season, and there is also the possibility that JaVale McGee could return as the club looks to retool for another run.

For Hawks fans, the outlook is fairly clear – their championship-winning coach is unlikely to be going anywhere anytime soon.

CAIRNS TAIPANS (9-24) – ADAM FORDE

The Cairns Taipans once again endured a difficult campaign in NBL26, falling short of expectations despite entering the season with optimism following the signing of Jack McVeigh to join a promising mix of local talent and imports.

However, as the season progressed, injuries began to mount and momentum quickly slipped away from the Taipans. What started with hope gradually turned into another challenging year for the Far North Queensland club.

Speaking towards the end of the season, head coach Adam Forde was candid about the current state of the organisation and the hurdles the club must overcome moving forward.

“We’re kind of in the same predicament as we were this time last year,” Forde said.

“There’s still no ownership – whether that happens or not.

“You look at the success of the top three teams – it’s really three levels, right.

“It’s loading up on the talent. (Brian Goorjian) probably said it two seasons ago – you need two marquees, you need to get the imports right.

“One of the things happening now, and most teams will do moving forward, is having that third import spot – injury replacement players if something happens during the season.

“Regardless of whether we get ownership or not, what the club’s doing a great job of is trying to put us in a position where we can build that talent.”

Forde was reportedly exploring overseas opportunities last season before ultimately returning to Cairns, and similar speculation could again arise depending on the direction the club takes this offseason.

Should the Taipans decide to make a change, there are several assistant coaches around the league who could be considered for the role. Names such as Joel Khalu, Melbourne United assistant Rhys Carter – who stepped in as acting head coach while Dean Vickerman recovered from surgery – and Perth Wildcats assistant Aaron Young could all potentially enter the conversation.

However, the biggest factor in Cairns’ future may not be the coach but rather the ownership situation. A shift in ownership could provide the club with greater financial resources and the ability to compete more strongly with the league’s bigger markets.

The Cairns community and organisation have long supported Forde, and if the club is able to strengthen its financial position, there remains every chance he could return to lead the Taipans again next season.

BRISBANE BULLETS (6-27) – STU LASH / DARRYL MCDONALD

NBL26 proved to be a difficult season for the Brisbane Bullets despite entering the year with genuine optimism following several major roster additions.

The club made headlines during the offseason with the signings of Casey Prather, Javon Freeman-Liberty and Jaylen Adams, joining a local core that included Tyrell Harrison – fresh off an impressive NBA Summer League showing – alongside Mitch Norton and Sam McDaniel.

However, the season quickly began to unravel.

The decision to appoint Stu Lash as head coach failed to deliver the results the organisation had hoped for, while injuries began to pile up across the roster. Off-court issues involving players also added to the challenges, compounding what quickly became a turbulent campaign.

Eventually the Bullets made the decision to move on from Lash, appointing assistant coach Darryl McDonald as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

When McDonald took over, the team’s injury issues continued to limit their ability to compete consistently, and the losses continued to mount. Brisbane ultimately finished with the worst record in the NBL.

As frustration around the organisation grew throughout the year, McDonald publicly questioned aspects of the club’s direction while also expressing his interest in taking on the role permanently.

However, with the season concluded and the club looking for a fresh start, the Bullets recently announced the appointment of Will Weaver as both head coach and President of Basketball Operations.

Weaver brings significant experience to the role, having previously coached in the NBA, Europe and the NBL. During his previous stint in the league, he led the Sydney Kings to the top seed and a Grand Final appearance, where they ultimately fell to the Perth Wildcats.

In a statement released by the club, Weaver spoke about his excitement at returning to Australia.

“I love Australia, and the opportunity to return and build something special in Brisbane is incredibly exciting for my family and me,” Weaver said.

“The Bullets have a strong foundation: passionate supporters, committed ownership, and a great city to call home.

“My focus now is building a basketball program that reflects that support and can compete at the highest level.

“The goal is to build a program that makes the city proud.”

For Brisbane, the appointment signals a clear reset. If the organisation is looking for a culture-changing leader who can recruit talent, build a program and reshape the club’s direction, Weaver appears to be the right choice to lead that process.