The NBL’s South East Melbourne Phoenix have fired coach Mike Kelly lower than a month into the season.
The Phoenix have gone winless by way of their first 5 video games of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, most not too long ago falling 87-85 to fellow strugglers Brisbane Bullets at dwelling on Saturday evening.
They’re the one aspect but to style victory this marketing campaign, having additionally completed final on the ladder in Kelly’s injury-plagued first season in cost.
Kelly was knowledgeable on Sunday morning that his contract had been terminated because the membership installs assistant Sam Mackinnon as interim coach.
“Whereas it hasn’t labored out the way in which I’d’ve favored, I’m grateful to the gamers, followers, sponsors and the Phoenix for the chance,” Kelly stated in a press release.
“I really imagine within the taking part in group and need all of them the most effective shifting ahead.”
In his closing post-match press convention, Kelly stated he felt the Phoenix had been starting to point out enchancment at each ends of the ground.
However SEM’s star-studded roster had however underachieved to start the brand new season, with neither ex-NBA guard Derrick Walton Jr nor Olympic medallist Nathan Sobey hitting prime gear.
Mike Kelly has been sacked as coach of South Melbourne Phoenix. (Picture by Daniel Pockett/Getty Photographs)
Sobey specifically has struggled for taking pictures kind.
Phoenix chief government Tommy Greer and basic supervisor of basketball operations Simon Mitchell will entrance the press on Monday to element the choice to half methods with Kelly.
“The staff’s on-court efficiency is just not assembly the membership’s requirements and expectations,” stated Mitchell, who preceded Kelly as head coach.
“Whereas we deeply respect, respect, and thank Mike for his laborious work and dedication, we imagine a change is critical to maneuver the staff ahead and ship the success our followers, sponsors, and stakeholders deserve.”
Alternative coach Mackinnon was briefly interim coach on the Brisbane Bullets in 2022 when the membership fired then-head coach James Duncan, however has by no means held a full-time head-coaching position.
The Phoenix will take into account Mackinnon as an choice to switch Kelly full-time however have additionally not dominated out changing the interim coach mid-season if the suitable candidate turns into out there.
Kelly finishes his stint on the Phoenix with a 30.3 per cent profitable report
The California native was beforehand coach of Cairns Taipans between 2018 and 2021, profitable coach of the yr within the 2019/20 season.
He has additionally frolicked as an assistant coach with Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United, amongst different NBL golf equipment.
Kelly turns into the second coach to half methods with their membership this marketing campaign after the Adelaide 36ers ousted Scott Ninnis late within the pre-season and put in Mike Wells as his alternative.
© AAP
