Deputies to still ride shotgun
Taipans coach embraces club’s existing structures
New Cairns Taipans coach Mike Kelly looks set to retain the incumbent coaching group at the NBL club following Aaron Fearne’s exit from the top job. Existing Taipans assistant coaches Jamie Pearlman (above) and Jamie O’Loughlin have been in contact with Kelly and both remain committed to staying with the Taipans in their roles for next season under the new mentor. The Taipans have also missed out on the signature of Boomer Mitch Norton.
NEW Cairns Taipans coach Mike Kelly looks set to retain the incumbent coaching group remaining at the NBL club following Aaron Fearne’s exit from the top job.
Both existing Taipans assistant coaches Jamie Pearlman and Jamie O’Loughlin applied for the vacant head coaching position and were interviewed for the job, but the former Melbourne United as- sistant coach was preferred to take over on a two-year deal.
Kelly, who stepped into the role late last week, has been in contact with the pair since he has started in Cairns, and both Pearlman and O’Loughlin remain committed to staying with the Taipans in their assistant roles for next season under the new mentor.
O’Loughlin started with the club last season, following Gordie McLeod’s exit, from the Perth Wildcats while Pearlman has been with the Taipans since 2012, as well as leading the club’s development academy.
O’Loughlin, who is coaching the Cairns Marlins in the QBL this winter, and Kelly have a strong working relationship as both were assistant coaches to Mark Radford with the Emerging Boomers at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei.
In Kelly’s introductory media release late last Friday night, he praised the club’s existing structures: “The Taipans have a reputation for their culture, with strong values that reflect the Cairns community, and I will be embracing and building on that ethos.”
Pearlman led the Marlins to a QBL title in 2016 and begins his coaching journey in the NZ NBL this weekend with Nelson.
Meanwhile, Cairns appear to have missed out on the prized signature of Australian Boomer Mitch Norton.
Channel Ten Perth yesterday afternoon reported Norton will sign with Perth.
Townsville’s Harry Froling has also decided not to play for Cairns, signing with Adelaide.