Brisbane Heat’s BBL-winning coach Wade Seccombe in shock exit

Brisbane Heat won their first BBL championship in a decade this year, but one of the key members of their successful run won’t be back next season. Find out why inside.

Brisbane Heat coach Wade Seccombe is facing the axe. Picture: Josh Woning

Big Bash winning coach Wade Seccombe has made a shock exit from his role after being told he would have to reapply for it.

Out of contract Seccombe was told by Queensland Cricket officials he would have to reapply for his roles as the coach of the Heat and the Queensland Bulls and later informed his bosses he had decided not to do so.

“Winning the BBL was huge goal of mine as a coach and a massive achievement for the club, and that is something that I will look back on with great pleasure down the track,’ Seccombe said in a statement released by Queensland Cricket.

“I said when I was reappointed a few years ago that there were several coaching goals I had set myself, with a BBL title and a chance to work with the Australian team again or internationally among the challenges that lay ahead for me.

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Brisbane Heat coach Wade Seccombe is facing the axe. Picture: Josh Woning

“My family and I will take stock on things from here and see what opportunities may present themselves. I am eternally grateful for their support and the success I have been fortunate to experience as a coach is due to them.

“We have an incredibly talented playing group and there are exciting times ahead for them. I wish them all the best for the future,’’ he said.

Seccombe completed player reviews on Monday and then had his own review where the news was given to him that the board was going to market for the coach of the Heat and the Bulls.

While Seccombe would have been granted an interview and the chance to salvage his career it is believed it would have been highly unlikely for him to get his job back.

While the Heat stormed to victory in the Big Bash in a remarkable summer where they lost only one game, Seccombe has paid the price for the Bulls finishing last in the Shield.

The former Sheffield Shield keeper and Australian tourist may have been held accountable for the stagnation of the Bulls who have a group of players such as Matt Renshaw, Max Bryant and Bryce Street whose development seems to have plateaued.

Brisbane Heat won the BBL for the first time in years when they overcame the Sixers in January. Picture: Getty Images

Queensland may have also felt the toll of doing two jobs may have ground him down.

Seccombe, who played 101 Shield matches for Queensland over 13 years, was a member of Queensland’s first Sheffield Shield winning team in 1994-95 and played in four more title campaigns.

Seccombe was appointed coach in place of Phil Jaques in 2017 guided the Bulls to two Sheffield Shield victories – in 2017-18 and 2020-21.

Usman Khawaja’s late career flourish took place under Seccombe’s reign after he showed faith in Khawaja by supporting his appointment as Bulls captain.

Queensland are expected to advertise nationally for a replacement and it remains unsure whether they will split the Big Bash and Shield roles.

Originally published as Brisbane Heat’s BBL-winning coach Wade Seccombe in shock exit