Tommy Greer steps down as South East Melbourne Phoenix chief executive

Inaugural South East Melbourne chief executive Tommy Greer has quit the Phoenix as new coach Josh King takes the reigns of the club he built from the ground up. Here’s the real reason why.

Tommy Greer has stood down as South East Melbourne Phoenix chief executive. Picture: AAP

One of the two men who helped build South East Melbourne Phoenix from the ground up is stepping down.

Tommy Greer, the club’s one and only chief executive, has informed ownership he’d given all he can as a new era begins at `the Phoenix under just-appointed coach Josh King.

It won’t happen straight away, though, with ownership entrusting Greer to head hunt his successor, putting paid to a nasty rumour the 40-year-old had been forced out due to recent on-court struggles.

“This is not a get-pushed-out-of-the-way-type scenario, the truth is, it’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle, and, over six-and-a-half years, I’ve given really everything I have to the club,” Greer told Code Sports.

“It’s been an enormous lift, brick-by-brick, to be able to build something from non-existence to the club that it is, which was six sellouts last year and the fastest growing club in the NBL, with a lot of accomplishment over that time.

Tommy Greer has stood down as South East Melbourne Phoenix chief executive. Picture: AAP

“Over the next couple of months I’ll work with ownership on finding an appropriate candidate, whether that be interim or ongoing.

“Once we do that, I’ll step into an advisory role in the background as support to whoever that new person is, through to June 30 next year.”

Greer’s move comes at a time where the Phoenix have shown signs of life, winning two of their last three games, following a horror 0-5 start to the season that cost coach Mike Kelly his job.

But he said he’d first considered a move at the end of last season, which was plagued by one of the worst injury lists in NBL history, and his decision wasn’t based on the team’s on-court results.

An intense off-season review, where the club overhauled its performance department and shifted focus to recruiting younger, more durable players, had taken a toll.

“None of this relates to wins and losses I’ve done that since I was 10,” Greer, who also has an ownership stake in the club, said.

“We started the last season with great hopes, and we were flying, but then we hit the injuries and It was very clear we needed a review.

“I was five years in the role at that point and I guess, in the back of my mind, I was like, ‘Okay, well, I’m going to dig into this, I’m going to sort this out, get this into a good spot, and then start considering what’s next after that’.”

Tommy Greer with tennis star — and Phoenix co-owner — Nick Kyrgios. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

American King, 39, held his first practice Monday and Greer said he was heartened by what he saw unfold.

“Sorting the performance department, that’s really what’s been triggering in my mind, and, to now have Josh in and on board, feels fantastic,” Greer, who informed the playing group of his plans Tuesday, said.

“His first day of practice, just ducking my head into that and hearing the energy in the gym and the excitement, it’s going to help me leave with a much freer mind.

“The program is in a great spot in terms of how it’s run, our daily schedule and its organisation and professionalism.

“I feel like with Josh at the helm now and (assistant coaches) Sammy (Mackinnon), Luke (Brennan) and (Adam Gibson) supporting, this team can realise its potential.”

At the end of last season, Greer coaxed good mate and inaugural coach Simon Mitchell back to the club to guide basketball decisions, with the focus now on recruiting a commercially-savvy chief executive.

“Now that we’ve got that right, it does feel like a good opportunity for the club to bring in some new blood and have someone else put their own stamp on things and help take the club into its next growth phase,” he said.

Greer is a two-time NBL champion who captain Melbourne Tigers as a player. Picture: Gregg Porteous

The former Melbourne Tigers captain won two NBL championships as a player and has wide experience in the business of pro sport, having spent three years at the NBL and two at Melbourne United, before, in 2018, taking on the mammoth task of establishing the league’s then-newest franchise. The former Fox Sports and SEN commentator even counts a stint at AFL club Hawthorn as a specialist coach.

“Coming through, winning a game for the Whittlesea Pacers U18s or making a state team, that was the biggest thing that you thought could ever happen,” Greer said.

“And then you’re winning an NBL championship and captaining the club you loved from when you were 10 and that becomes the biggest thing you’ve ever done.

“Launching a national sporting franchise to a game-one win against a cross-town rival at John Cain arena, and that becomes the biggest thing — and then you’re managing a club through Covid.

“I’ll always feel a part of the Phoenix and, whilst maybe not on the day-to-day, I’ll always be around and connected to the club in some form.”

Greer said he would take a step back and reflect, before exploring opportunities next year. He and partner Hanna Zavecz, a former Opal and WNBL champion, also plan on starting a family.

Originally published as Tommy Greer steps down as South East Melbourne Phoenix chief executive