BIG NAMES IN THE MIX

NBL legends confirm their interest in coaching the Cairns Taipans

ADD Mike Kelly and Darryl McDonald to the list of applicants for the Cairns Taipans coaching job for NBL season 2018-19 and beyond.

The Cairns Post has confirmed the experienced pair’s interest in the role, which was vacated last month when the club parted ways with long-term coach Aaron Fearne.

Kelly (left) was among the leading candidates to replace Dean Demopoulos at Melbourne United last year, before being beaten to the job by highly-rated Sydney Kings assistant coach Dean Vickerman, and taking a role as Vickerman’s assistant.

Kelly has spent the past three seasons at United developing his coaching craft after previously working at the Townsville Crocodiles as an assistant coach.

He helped lead United to an NBL championship this season and is now interested in a return to North Queensland with the Taipans.

Kelly was an assistant at the Crocs under Shawn Dennis, who is also a leading candidate for the Taipans top job.

McDonald, who played almost 500 games for North Melbourne Giants, Victoria Titans and Melbourne Tigers in 14 years, has been out of the NBL since 2015 but is keen to return.

The 53-year-old was handed the interim Melbourne United job in 2014 after Chris Anstey left the position following the first game of the season and steered them to the verge of the finals before the group faded badly late in the season.

United decided not to continue with McDonald, instead hiring Demopoulos, as he has sporadically provided special comments on Fox Sport’s NBL coverage as well as coaching Knox Raiders in the Big V competition in Victoria.

The application process to be the new Taipans coach closed last week with incumbent Taipans assistant coaches Jamie Pearlman and Jamie O’Loughlin, Brisbane assistant Mick Downer and Joel Khalu also confirmed applicants.

Applicants who were being considered were late last week told of when the club will interview them.