The Southland Sharks have today confirmed Head Coach Guy Molloy will not be returning to the role he has filled for the past two seasons with the club.
The experienced Australian finished his Sal’s NBL commitments in July, returning home to pick up his role in charge of the Sydney Flames in the Women’s NBL competition.
With the New Zealand League’s 2025 start date likely to be brought forward to mid-March, Molloy’s availability for the Sharks’ pre-season build up was put into question, meaning he has made the difficult decision not to return next season.
“When I sat down with the Club to work through our off-season plans and looked at the timing, we knew it would be tight. If the Flames go through to Finals, there’s potential that I could be turning up the day before our season opener and that’s not fair on anyone, most especially the Sharks players,” Molloy said.
“I care too much about the organisation and our fans to do that and if there’s one thing that was obvious from the first half of last year’s campaign it is that making a strong start and preparing well through the pre-season is vital. The dates for next year just don’t allow for that to happen.”
“It’s a call I didn’t want to make but it’s the only one that is fair for all parties,” he said.
After a difficult start to last year’s campaign, Molloy rallied the Sharks to finish with four wins over the final nine games.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the way our players stuck together and fought the whole way. To dig out of the hole we found ourselves in mid-season the way we did shows just what the Sharks mean to our players. I can’t thank them, my team management and our fans and sponsors enough,” Molloy said.
Sharks Basketball Chair David Simpson said the organisation understood Molloy’s difficult decision.
“He has put the organisation first which is the mark of the man. Guy and our players did a phenomenal job over the back end of last season and really showed pride in the singlet. It gives us a great launching pad into 2025 and while we are disappointed that he won’t be returning as planned we respect and support his decision,” Simpson said.
The Head Coach role has been formally advertised with expressions of interest to be sent to office@sharksbasketball.co.nz.
Comments