Geelong United NBL1 coach Grant Wallace returns to the top job after initially walking away

Two days after new broke Geelong United’s NBL1 coach had walked away from the club following a proposed succession plan, he has returned to the fold.

Geelong United recruit Matt McCarthy with head coach Grant Wallace. Photo: Geelong United Basketball.

Geelong United’s NBL1 men’s team coach has been reinstated just 48 hours after news broke he had walked away from a reportedly enforced succession plan.

This publication revealed on October 12 that Grant Wallace had resigned from the top job after two seasons following reported moves by the club for a handover with United’s NBL1 women’s coach, Jamie Petty.

However, United has dismissed reports the succession plan was ever imposed on Wallace, and that he would reportedly finish up after the 2025 season, irrespective of performance.

Geelong finished eighth this season after being defeated by the Eltham Wildcats by five points in an elimination final.

Grant Wallace walked away from the club after a mooted succession plan. Picture: Mark Wilson

With United’s entry into the WNBL this year, Wallace previously said the club wanted its NBL1 women’s coach to assist senior coach Chris Lucas.

He said Petty trialled for the AC job but was unsuccessful, so, Wallace believes the plan was hatched to keep the former Basketball Queensland high performance coach.

“They don’t want to lose him, he’s a good coach,” Wallace said on Wednesday.

However, Wallace was contacted by Geelong United chief executive Mark Neeld on the Monday, two days after the news of him leaving broke, and eventually agreed to a new two-year deal.

“Straight after that article, the CEO Mark Neeld got in contact with me, he rang me over the course of that weekend ... to say we need to chat,” he said.

“On the Monday he rang and I just thought: ‘I’ve got to put my big boys pants on’ and talk to him.

“All conversations had been done with the operations manager there.

Geelong coach Grant Wallace with recruit Matt McCarthy. Photo: Geelong United Basketball.

“He mentioned it wasn’t the position of the club, what was actually being suggested, they wanted to see what a succession looked like with me, rather than the option which was put forward.

“He said we want you to coach, do you want to coach? I said I most definitely do, we’re doing some great things but not under that situation of a succession plan.”

He said Neeld was happy to put any thoughts of a succession plan to the side.

“The support I received from the players ... they’ve been brilliant to be honest,” he said.

“Mark’s put me on for two years, which is great support for me to move forward.”

United has been contacted for further comment.

Neeld previously told this masthead the club had not forced the succession plan on Wallace.

“That is not the message from the club at all, not even close,” Neeld said.

“We wanted to check with Grant, see if he has any interest, and then take it from there.

“There have been no firm decisions made on anything.”

Meanwhile, the club is continuing to have discussions with stars Demarcus Gatlin and George Blagojevic about their new contracts, having lunch with the pair last week.

“They’re pretty motivated to go a bit better than we did last year,” he said.

“Not much changes because the philosophy we had as a club, trying to make sure we have a pathway there for as many Geelong players as we can.

Wallace said Geelong star Demarcus Gatlin was determined to see an improved performance in 2025. Picture: Ethan Cunningham Photography

“Recruiting becomes less of a priority and development becomes more of a priority.”

He said he wanted to get more game time into Youth League players Marach Marach, Cohen and Ethan Blythe and Liam Herbert, with the latter “making so much ground last year”.

“Just a great human but his athletic ability is off the charts, we’re just trying to build his IQ and his strength,” he said of Marach

“He’ll be very much in the rotation.

“With that core we think we’re pretty good, just add a few pieces to it and away we go.

“It’s a healthy thing for the club to have these guys coming through.”

Originally published as Geelong United NBL1 coach Grant Wallace returns to the top job after initially walking away