Players shocked as Adelaide Lightning part ways with coach Kerryn Mitchell

Prior to Adelaide Lightning’s first match without former coach Kerryn Mitchell, CEO Mel MacGillivray was evasive when asked about the bombshell decision to part ways with the coach after just seven games.

Adelaide Lightning is yet to provide reasons for its bombshell decision to part ways with coach Kerryn Mitchell after just seven games, a sudden move that has left many in the WNBL community seeking answers.

Hours after confirming reports Mitchell was out, chief executive Mel MacGillivray, prior to Tuesday night’s clash with top-of-the-table Townsville, addressed the 51-year-old’s exit.

Amid a “tough 24 hours for the club in totality, players, front office staff, board and ownership”, MacGillivray said Mitchell’s departure was “taken with every consideration”.

But she was unable to shed more light on why the club reached the decision to move on from its coach.

Asked on the WNBL broadcast if reports players had driven the decision were accurate, MacGillivray offered: “I can respect and understand the question, I can assure you and our supporters that, again, all consideration was taken when making the decision that we made, which includes the board and our ownership team and we’re united in providing an environment for our players that allows for high performance, respect and integrity.”

Code Sports has been told some players were left shocked when they learned of the decision on Monday and a club source was adamant “this was not a case of the tail wagging the dog.”

Kerryn Mitchell has parted ways with Adelaide Lightning. Picture: Getty Images

Legendary nine-time WNBL championship coach and hall-of-famer Tom Maher said the decision was “unbelievable” and called on the club to reveal the reasons for Mitchell’s exit.

Mitchell’s assistant Georgia Crouch, whose father Peter Sexton was part of the legendary Jan Stirling’s coaching staff when she led Adelaide to the 1994 WNBL title, was installed as interim and took the reins against the Fire.

MacGillivray hailed Crouch’s promotion as a “full circle and wonderful story for this club”.

“When I was at training this morning, when we talked about all the things that we’re going to celebrate tonight, that was one of those things,” MacGillivray said.

The Lightning also welcomed new signing Erin Bollmann, who slides into the open roster spot vacated by American Serena Sundell, who suffered a devastating knee injury earlier this month.

The American has won the past three NBL1 North Defensive Player of the Year honours and has been knocking on the door of a WNBL opportunity for years. A 183cm forward out of Missouri, the 31-year-old brings a veteran presence to the young Lightning outfit.

Steph Talbot and the Lightning took on the Fire on Wednesday night, with Georgie Crouch installed as interim coach. Picture: Getty Images

On the surface, the decision to part ways with Mitchell appeared a stunning turn of events, given the reborn Lightning, who entered the season rank $34 championship outsiders, were 3-4, on the cusp of a top-four berth.

It came just days after Mitchell’s side mounted a stunning overtime win over Geelong in what would be her last game at the helm and has left the Lightning to search for a fifth coach in less than a year.

After Nat Hurst departed in December last year, Matthew Clarke was installed as interim before former Adelaide 36ers’ coach Scott Ninnis coached out the season.

The club almost collapsed in the midst of the Wollemi Capital-NBL takeover of the WNBL.

But, following a protracted dispute with former owner Pelligra, the SA State Government swooped in with a three-year $1.71 million rescue package.

Former Canberra Capital Mitchell was plucked out of the NZ Tall Ferns coaching set up to lead the Lightning under its new ownership group of Mohan Koo, Jeevan Koo, James Begley, and John Paul Drake.

She re-signed franchise star and Opals bronze medallist Steph Talbot, who is producing stunning career-best form, lured emergent guard Dallas Loughridge and struck gold with LA Sparks tall import Sania Feagin.

Alicia Froling led the Fire to a win against the Lightning. Picture: Getty Images

In their first hitout sans Mitchell, the Lightning suffered a 26-point loss to the Fire,

In a surprise move, Paris Olympic bronze medal-winning Opal Tess Madgen supported Crouch on the sidelines.

Mitchell’s lead assistant Cherie Cordoba was a notable absentee from the Lightning support staff.

Adelaide was led by 18-points from Feagin, 11 from Steph Talbot and 10 from Dallas Loughridge but was no match for the red-hot title favourites, who shot 52 per cent from the field and had five players in double digits, led by a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double from powerhouse big Alicia Froling.

The Lightning are now 3-5 on the season and slipped to sixth.

Originally published as Players shocked as Adelaide Lightning part ways with coach Kerryn Mitchell