Kent Brockman
Years ago
Arsego sacked
Breakers jettison Arsego as coach
02 February 2005
By TOBY ROBSON
New Zealand Breakers coach Frank Arsego has finally been shown the door.
The Breakers announced yesterday that the head coach would leave the club at the end of the season, with the job to advertised.
Breakers chairman Keith Ward made it clear Arsego had not quit, with the decision reached only in the past 48 hours.
"That was not the case at all. He was surprised by the decision. He did not see it coming. It came out of discussions yesterday (Monday) and he was very disappointed.
"We have not had the results and we decided as a board that something had to change."
Ward said back-to-back losses last week to the Brisbane Bullets (117-77) and the Hunter Pirates (107-96) had forced the board's hand.
But in reality Arsego had already been under huge pressure at the under-performing Auckland-based franchise.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThough the team finally broke a string of six consecutive losses with a 106-92 win against West Sydney at the weekend it was only the Breakers' second in 12 away games.
Their 8-19 win-loss ratio means they are last on the Australian National Basketball League table.
The move comes a day after Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin re-entered the professional coaching market when he left his job as high performance coach with Basketball New Zealand to take up a contract in Turkey.
Ward said he expected Baldwin to be among the applicants for the job.
"It's logical because he expressed his interest before he left for Turkey. We would welcome Tab like anybody else. We want to cast our net wide to get the best possible applications."
Ward said the Breakers had not discussed the job with Baldwin and would not be making an approach.
Breakers assistant coach Wayne Brown is contracted till the end of 2006 and his ongoing employment will not be reviewed till a new head coach is appointed.
Ward would not speculate on the future of the current players on the Breakers roster, but several must be on shaky ground.
"Yes and no. They are under pressure all the time as professional players, but I can't as chairman go out and do the lay ups," Ward said. "They need to look at themselves and if they have performed to their own standards."
Despite results, Ward praised Arsego's contribution on a personal level.
"No individual has contributed more to the development of our club during our short history than Frank, in ways that most players and observers will never appreciate."
Arsego, who started as assistant coach last year, inherited the head coach's job from Jeff Green, who was sacked in November after what the club indicated was unacceptable court-side behaviour
