TASMANIA JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has revealed the emotional toll of living apart from his wife and family for more than a year while heading up the NBL’s newest franchise almost pushed him to quit before the season opener.
“I was at rock bottom and crashing,” Roth told the Sunday Tasmanian, saying it was a heart-to-heart with the club’s CEO Simon Brookhouse that convinced him to tough it out until Tasmania’s borders reopened in mid-December.
From the despair of late 2021, Roth is now at the top of his game – enjoying life in Hobart reunited with his wife Lorie and steering the JackJumpers to the NBL top four on the back of a four-game winning-streak.
“I put a lot of effort into what I was doing, but now I feel much much better than what I did back then,” Roth said.
“Now, when I get home in the afternoon, there’s someone waiting for you and someone to go to the game with and someone to be around.”
Last year, the 203cm former NBA star was a few months into his ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity as head coach of the new Tasmanian NBL franchise.
In the island state, interest in the JackJumpers was running hot.
Roth had thrown himself into the head coach role, but found the isolation away from the court and the locker room difficult.
Due to Covid restrictions, Roth had not seen his US-based wife of 31 years, Lorie, or his daughter Dene, for more than a year.
After meeting during the 1988 NBA playoffs while Roth was playing for the Utah Jazz, the couple had never spent more than a month apart.
The separation was taking its toll.
Roth admits now he was on the brink of quitting and considered heading home before the JackJumpers had even played the NBL season opener.
“The situation was very tenuous for me and I thought maybe I need to go home and this is enough,” Roth said.
“Five months apart turned into six months and into seven months and then it got to, I think, 14 months apart at that point. So it was definitely a whirlwind of a lot of stuff going on and a lot of things I missed: birthdays, and anniversaries, Christmas, Thanksgiving.
“We built a brand new house I’m yet to even walk in and my dog passed away, which was emotional for me.
“I was hoping to get home for all of that, so there were just a lot of things that were snowballing and accumulating on my end and I know it was the same for Lorie.”
Lorie confirmed the loneliness was difficult and that the couple would often Facetime two or three times a day.
“It was a rollercoaster is the best way to put it. We had the highs and the very, very lows,” she said.
“I know my situation is probably minimal for what other people had to go through, but for the most part, it was very, very trying times.”
Scott and Lorie were reunited in December after Tasmania’s borders reopened, ending a 14-month span apart.
It’s clear a weight has lifted from the coach’s shoulders.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time regardless of that moment, but to know that Lorie is here now and my daughter will be coming and the team is basically in place and everything is moving along is a huge relief to me,” Roth said.
Despite his heart trying to pull him home late last year, Roth said he chose to stick it out largely due to a conversation with JackJumpers CEO Brookhouse.
“Simon said, ‘If you can just relax for a minute here a bit and breathe, then I think something will happen with the restrictions here’ and sure enough, it did not long after.
“There was then at least light at the end of the tunnel mentally for me to say OK now I know for sure she’s going to get over here so that eased a lot of stress.
“Obviously, I’m happy that I was able to stick this out and get to the other side of it all.”
The final piece in the Roth family puzzle, their daughter Dene, is set to visit Tasmania soon.
And Roth plans to return home during the NBL off season for a variety of reasons, including to see his new home in southern Florida for the first time.
The JackJumpers play South East Melbourne in Melbourne at 1pm on Sunday. Watch on 10 Peach or Kayo Freebies.
Add your comment to this story
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout
‘I can’: New Aussie NBA man’s childhood mission statement
Taran Armstrong always knew he was destined for the NBA — and his mum held onto the evidence. The new Golden State Warrior reveals how NBA draft disappointment fuelled his remarkable rise.
Why Jackies were perilously close to abandoning Silverdome
Tasmania JackJumpers boss Christine Finnegan has revealed rival clubs had complained about the conditions of Launceston’s Silverdome which meant games at the venue were in even more danger of being abandoned. Why the future is now brighter.