Sounds like something remote while he gets an overseas coaching gig. Who should replace him? Great low-pressure environment for a rookie head coach potentially

Also sounds like he'll assist the club with finding a new coach

He has done a great job with the rosters he has had. Congratulations Fordey and enjoy your stint overseas!

I'm disappointed, but Stevie Wonder saw this coming.

Despite whatever press releases come out, Stevie can also see what the "selection process" will produce.

And if (when) that eventuates, Cairns won't make finals next two years before it implodes.

That said, I really hope I'm wrong...

McKinnon or Chance, they've been angling for head coaching roles?

Very sad to see Forde leave, he was great for us and really had the backing of the Cairns community. Olgun reporting Kerry Williams as a strong consideration. As for who else might be in contention, be nice to see some other highly regarded assistants who have done their time and are ready for the big job. However I have a feeling that most would rather be an assistant of a much bigger club and wait for other opportunities, rather than a club with very limited resources. Sad to say as a Taipans die hard, but it's the reality of it. Good luck to whoever gets the job, hope they can stay around for as long as Forde did as well.

A lot of talk all year about Mackinnon taking a hc role soon.

Do we all forget so quickly how much of a train wreck the bullets were under his watch, both as gm and head coach?

From some of these comments, had to check that we're talking about the same Coach Forde who lost 60% of his games.

small club blah blah blah

One of the most over aggressive coaches I have seen
Speaks to his players like dirt

His record would not have been better than Kelly who got the bullet.

Lol at Mackinnon for the job!! One of the most toxic individuals within the NBL. Time to move on from some of these dinosaurs that should have been left behind years ago.

I love the idea of Gleeson in Cairns

22/23 was an epic season for Cairns, and if not for untimely injuries might've made a GF or even won a title.

But overall across 4 years, the record isn't great, even considering the low budget. This year was a poor year. Started and finished well but putrid in between. Had some injuries, but not as bad as Tasmania or Brisbane who had much better years.

Had some injuries, but not as bad as Tasmania or Brisbane who had much better years.

Cairns are probably spending 2/3 - 3/4 of what the second lowest spending team are spending and probably 40-50% of what the highest spending team do.

Expectation should be in line with budget.

@Twinkletoes

Brisbane had:

- McDaniel played 1 game (missed 28 games)
- Deng Adel missed 19 games
- Bannan missed 10 games
- Harrison missed 9 games
- Zikarsky missed 11 games
- Batemon got injured halfway through the season (and was replaced by Adams after a few games but caused disruption and Adams wasnt as good)

Brisbane basically had only 6 or 7 fit players for the last month or 6 weeks

For Tassie, Macdonald missed 20 games and Magnay missed 16. They played a combined 22 out of 58. Deng missed 3.

Taran Armstrong missing 10 games was a big nuisance for Cairns, and others missed a handful here and there which created disruptions with players coming in and out.

Cairns starters played 81% of games cumulatively. Brisbane was decimated, and Tassie missed two of their main guys for the majority of the year. You cannot compare the Taipans injuries to Brisbane or Tassie this season. And both teams won 4 or 5 games more.

Forde did a reasonable job, it's a tough gig but probably no better than Kelly. It’s strange how media, fan’s reaction to both are so different.

Not really that strange Dunkman, everyone is disappointed about Forde because he's a great guy and one of the best blokes in the league. Most people don't view the same about Kelly

word14 I know Kelly and his family personally, he is a great person, and is actually well respected, not sure where you've got your information?

You cannot compare the Taipans injuries to Brisbane or Tassie this season

As the late, great Homicide Williams said

"Men lie, women lie, numbers don't"

The numbers of games missed certainly don't lie. Taipans had their main guys most of the time.

I should say Taipans had most of their main guys most of the time

Dortio, apologies if you felt as if i was attacking Kelly in anyway there. I'm sure he is a great guy, and personally I rate him as a coach, I've just always perceived him as not being quite as warmly accepted by NBL fans as Forde seems to have been for the most part. Speaking generally anyway

No one "in the league" thinks Forde is a great guy. That's laughable

Yeah first I've heard of Forde being described as a 'great guy' that's usually the description of Mike Kelly.

We've clearly seen different things, as I said I don’t have anything against Kelly

For Cairns to be successful they need to hit home runs on their imports, at least get some stars like Hogg, Machado etc. Also a reclamation project like Pinder.
Most impressive was they didn't drop the bundle after that losing streak, beat Hawks twice and Wildcats towards the end. They did have some big big losses only scoring in the sixties, and looked like it could be an all time disastrous season. I thought Galloway was going to be in the running for most improved but never took advantage of the situation.
Don't know where there has been a lot of talk about McKinnon looking at a HC role, filled in well at Sem for those few games but was more than likely the players wanted someone other than Kelly.
Getting someone like Cadee could be a smart decision as an assistant coach with a succession plan in place if they get a more experienced coach, or from overseas. Could pull a Barlow and suit up if they get a few injuries again, and has been communicated as someone that could be a good coach.

Forde has done a great job at Cairns when you consider the budget he had to work with each year.

His development of the young player and players no one else wanted has been tremendous.

Good luck to him for the future and lets see what he does to help development of the area continue.

Yes,he is probably waiting on an overseas gig where he can earn some dollars but he deserves it.

Hopefully the Sixers have already rung Forde.

Forde named interim coach of Australia's men's 3x3 team, with Greg Hire as his assistant.

https://nbl.com.au/news/forde-lands-new-coaching-gig

Damon Lowery re-appointed coach of the women's 3x3 team too.

Forde named interim coach of Australia's men's 3x3 team, with Greg Hire as his assistant.

https://nbl.com.au/news/forde-lands-new-coaching-gig

Damon Lowery re-appointed coach of the women's 3x3 team too, with Hannah Lowe as his assistant.