Applications for inaugural JackJumpers head coach close as short-listing process begins

The Tasmania JackJumpers remain on track to appoint their first head coach by Christmas, with expressions of interest for the job closing after the club received more than 100 applications.

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THE hunt for Tasmania’s first NBL coach is about to narrow, with applications for the position closing.

JackJumpers chief executive Simon Brookhouse received more than 100 expressions of interest from around the world for the head coaching role.

He will soon begin short-listing potential candidates and while he remains eager to finalise the appointment by Christmas, he has reiterated the club will only do so if it has the right person for the job.

“The inbox blew up from all around the world, which is fantastic and from all walks of life,” Brookhouse said.

“I haven’t gone through and counted them all up but they’re well over 100.

Tasmania Jack Jumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse will begin short-listing potential head coaches from the 100-plus applications submitted. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“We’ve now closed the application process and we’ll be short-listing over the next few days, we’ve had a great breadth of knowledge in the sport from the US, from Asia, from Europe and from here in Australia.

“I’m very confident that in what we’ve got and what we will shortlist and go through the next stage, we’ll get a really, really accomplished coach and someone who will call Tasmania home for a long time.

“I’d love to have someone in the job yesterday, but the reality of it is we’d like to be able to make an announcement before Christmas, if possible.

“But as I’ve said before we won’t do that if we haven’t got the right person, and we haven’t got the right contractual arrangements in place.

“We’ll take our time to get it right. In a perfect world, I’d love to have someone here early in the new year.”

Central to the role, and something Brookhouse said he would make clear during the interview process, is candidates accepting they will be the face of the organisation at ground level as the league’s newest club builds momentum.

“We’ll be making that very clear that this is a role for someone who needs to be in the community and the team needs to be in the community.

“That’s the culture we’re trying to grow as a team.

“We’re not there on the basis of just the NBL, we’re there to grow the sport, we need to be throughout the state, we need to be very, very visible.”

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