Adelaide 36ers start formal interviews in search for new head coach to replace Joey Wright
Josh Giddey’s mentor at the AIS, Adam Caporn, Adelaide 36ers legend Phil Smyth and dual title-winning player Kevin Brooks are on the club’s radar as it begins formal interviews to find its replacement for departed head coach Joey Wright.
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The Adelaide 36ers have started interviews for their new head coach with club legend Phil Smyth, current assistant Kevin Brooks and new signing Josh Giddey’s AIS mentor Adam Caporn all on the club’s radar.
It’s understood up to 10 candidates could be spoken to as part of the first round of interviews including a United States-based American coach via video link and some state-level coaches from across Australia.
Smyth, 61, coached Adelaide to three championships during his time at the helm from 1998 to 2008 and last month was inducted into the club’s inaugural hall of fame.
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Brooks, 50, won two titles with Adelaide as a player and has been an assistant coach at the 36ers since 2013, working closely with outgoing head coach Joey Wright while running his own personal basketball coaching and consultancy business.
Caporn is Basketball Australia’s centre of excellence head coach and has helped develop the likes of 17-year-old Giddey, who has signed with the 36ers for next season as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program.
Caporn is a current assistant coach for the Boomers and spent four years between 2010 and 2014 coaching at St Mary’s College in the US after his playing days with Wollongong and Perth in the NBL.
Despite speculation linking him to the role, Australian basketball great and former Sydney Kings coach Andrew Gaze is not considering, or being looked at for, the 36ers job.
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Adelaide 36ers land first signing in the post-Joey Wright era – Josh Giddey
Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley last week told The Advertiser he wanted a coach who would improve the team’s sub-par three-point game and its points-per-possession average.
He also confirmed the club was in advanced talks to re-sign former NBL rookie of the year Harry Froling and bring Jerome Randle back for the second year of his contract despite his serious knee injury in Spain this month.
But the team looks set to lose Anthony Drmic, who was awarded its most improved player this season and has the club’s blessing to speak with rival clubs weeks before the free agency period opens.
reece.homfray@news.com.au