Ex-Adelaide 36ers guard John Rillie has not been offered the club’s vacant coaching job, but refuses to rule out an NBL return
NBL title-winner John Rillie says he has not been offered an Adelaide 36ers return to take over the embattled club’s vacant coaching job. But the US college mentor has refused to rule out a homecoming.
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ADELAIDE 36ers title-winner John Rillie says he has not been approached to take over the vacant coaching job at the embattled SA club.
But the 1998 NBL champion refused to rule out returning to Australia from the US should the right offer come his way.
Rillie had spent the past nine years coaching in America, first as an assistant at Boise State University and now as No. 2 at the University of California Santa Barbara.
The ex-Boomers guard had been instrumental in rebuilding the Gauchos’ men’s hoops program, more than two decades after his three-season Sixers stint ended in glory.
But he remained open to again working in his homeland, as Adelaide searched for a new mentor following the controversial departure of Joey Wright.
“I haven’t put any thought into it, because I have my job that I do right now,” said Rillie, when asked if he had been offered the 36ers role.
“But no one has reached out to me to see if there was any interest level.
“When you play the majority of your professional career in that league, you’re from that country, you’ve represented your country, it (returning) is always in the back of your mind.”
Rillie arrived at the Sixers in 1996 and was a key member of the team that snapped a 12-year title drought under Phil Smyth.
The Queenslander racked up 1150 points in 94 matches, before joining the now defunct West Sydney Razorbacks and losing the 2002 grand final series to Adelaide.
He later played for Townsville Crocodiles and New Zealand Breakers, then launched his coaching career at Boise where 36ers guard Anthony Drmic was one of his star pupils.
Rillie moved to three-time Big West Conference champion Santa Barbara in 2017 to work with newly-appointed head mentor Joe Pasternack.
The 48-year-old would be an intriguing replacement for Wright, who mutually parted ways with Adelaide in February having missed the playoffs for the second-straight campaign.
Wright was then the target of a Twitter tirade by co-captain Kevin White, which cast a shadow over his seven seasons at the helm.
Rillie, who lives with his wife and three children Stateside, said he had developed his coaching craft working with promising talents.
“I love coaching,” said Rillie, the 2003 NBL scoring champion and 2004 All-NBL first team member.
“I love trying to help kids become great players, but then also good people.
“When you’re dealing with kids (aged) 18-22, there’s a lot more to it than just basketball for them.
“We took over a program that had won six games the previous year.
“So (they have been) constructing that and understanding all the different things that go into building something that can sustain success.”
All NCAA leagues, along with most sporting competitions worldwide, were suspended last month due to coronavirus concerns.
Athens 2004 Olympian Rillie said it was a challenging period for players and coaches alike.
“Pretty much everyone has gone home and all schools at all levels have gone to online.
“Right now, we try to educate our players on how they can work and improve on things.
“But some of their resources are pretty limited, because most people are on lockdown over here.
“I’m fortunate enough right now to be in a job where we can still be working and getting paid.
“But a lot of other people are less fortunate.”