Nelson Giants sign Aussie as coach

Australian Jamie Pearlman has been confirmed as the Nelson Giants’ head coach for next year’s National Basketball League.

Assistant coach of the Cairns Taipans in the Australian Basketball League, 46-year-old Pearlman officially accepted an offer from the Giants this week.

He replaces this year’s stand-in coach, Brendon Bailey, who in turn had replaced Australian Alan McAughtry who was sacked by the Giants following an unprecedented five-match losing streak for the club at the start of this year’s NBL season.

Pearlman’s resume boasts two grand final campaigns with the Taipans and a Queensland Basketball League championship as head coach of the Cairns Marlins.

He has been involved with both organisations since 2012. Giants board chairman Bill Dahlberg said that Pearlman was ‘‘a highly respected coach who will grow our young talent here but is also good enough to attract other quality players to come here’’.

Dahlberg believed that Pearlman’s Cairns’ roots would enable him to slot comfortably into the Nelson environment.

‘‘The biggest thing is that Cairns are very similar to the Giants in that they haven’t got a massive budget, they like growing local talent and they like to make sure they bring a lot of energy and great crowd support and they want to play an attractive style of basketball.’’

Pearlman was promoted to first assistant coach for the Taipans this year, with his new contract facilitated so he had the ability to accept other opportunities during the off-season.

‘‘I’m definitely excited and looking forward to the challenge,’’ Pearlman said.

‘‘All coaches strive to coach at the highest level and I feel this opportunity provides me with the next step in my coaching career. The timing obviously works well, during the NBL off-season, where I can be part of a new environment and experience a different competition.

‘‘The Giants are a wellrespected team and I’m looking forward to the new opportunity,’’ he added.