Chargers championship-winning coach Anthony Stewart takes next step towards NBL

The next logical path on Anthony Stewart’s coaching journey was to join the Southern Huskies but it didn’t make the decision to resign from the Hobart Chargers any easier.

Anthony Stewart has signed as Southern Huskies coach Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

THE next logical path on Anthony Stewart’s coaching journey was to join the Southern Huskies but it didn’t make the decision to resign from the Hobart Chargers any easier.

Stewart, who along with Chargers president David Bartlett, turned the club from a financial basket case to SEABL champions in just two years, couldn’t knock back the opportunity to take the reins of Tasmania’s foray into the New Zealand NBL.

He has signed a three-year deal — which he hopes could eventually lead to a position in the Australian NBL in coming years — and has already started assembling a talent-laden squad.

Basketball. Hobart Chargers V Geelong Supercats in the SEABL prelim final in Hobart. Hobart Chargers Club President David Bartlett with Hobart Chargers Coach Anthony Stewart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

As revealed by the Mercury on Wednesday, NBA prospect Harry Froling and North West guard Mason Bragg are already locked in, with Stewart confirming negotiations with SEABL championship stars Craig Moller and Tre Nichols are advanced.

NBA PROSPECT HARRY FROLING SIGNS FOR HUSKIES

The Huskies have also offered a contract to American Jalen Billups, a 25-year-old big man who was crowned 2018 MVP of Western Australia’s SBL, the same league Stewart plucked Nichols from as he lit up the SEABL.

“It wasn’t an easy decision but I suppose looking at the competition in New Zealand, in particular for me in the coaching area, you have Mick Downer who is with the Brisbane Bullets, Jamie Pearlman who coached under Aaron Fearne at the Cairns Taipains for a few years and Paul Henare is coaching Wellington, he is head of their international program,” Stewart said of telling the Chargers he was leaving.

“When you get good coaches like that you know there is going to be great teams on the floor and that enticed me to put my hand up and give it a crack.

“For me, 3500 at that last game against Geelong [at the DEC] and going on to win a championship, I feel there is not much more I could have achieved in the coaching stakes.

“This opportunity comes up, it is obviously the next step in my career path as a coach.

“I still have to prove myself at the next level.”