Tasmania JackJumpers assistant coach Jarrad Weeks named Hobart Charger NBL1 coach

An NBL veteran and current Tasmania JackJumpers assistant coach has been named as the Hobart Chargers new head coach.

Former Tasmania JackJumpers player and now assistant coach Jarrad Weeks has been named the head coach of the Hobart Chargers NBL1 side. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Tasmania JackJumpers assistant coach Jarrad Weeks has been named the Hobart Chargers new coach.

The 254-game NBL veteran will replace Anthony Stewart in the top role and will remain in his role at the JackJumpers while coaching in the NBL1 South conference during the NBL off-season.

Stewart has moved into a director of coaching role at the club.

Weeks joined the Chargers program as a special adviser earlier this year and is also a past player at the club.

With becoming a head coach always on his bucket list, Weeks said he was thrilled to have been offered the role.

“It’s obviously something I want to do moving forward (head coaching), so this is the first step in my journey,” Weeks said.

“The people that are involved in the Chargers are really, really good and I’m excited of where the club wants to go.

Weeks is one of three assistant coaches at the JackJumpers, alongside Jack Fleming (left) and Mark Radford (middle). Picture: Linda Higginson

“Getting to know the guys a little bit last year with my involvement with the club, they’re all a great bunch of people and I’m just excited to jump on board and hopefully try and move the club in a good direction.”

While he may have just taken on the role, Weeks said they were hopeful of announcing a number of signings in the coming weeks ahead of the season kicking off early next year.

“I’m pumped to see where this can go. A lot of local talent (will be the focus this year),” he said.

“Kind of going away from the overseas imports and trying to focus on progressing Tasmanian talent and then hopefully providing a pathway going forward for these kids.

“Obviously we’re going through all that recruiting stuff now and hopefully we’ll have some announcements of some local guys coming forward in the next couple of weeks.”

JackJumpers COO Darren Smith said the appointment of Weeks as the Chargers head coach would allow both organisations to continue to go from strength to strength.

“We are delighted to see ‘Weeksy’ appointed as the head coach of the Hobart Chargers,” Smith said.

“The appointment will allow both the JackJumpers and Chargers to have continued alignment, and for both clubs to continue to strengthen basketball at the elite level in the south of the state.”