Kings head coach Andrew Gaze will step down following the NBL19 Finals.
The club was planning to announce Gaze’s status at the series’ conclusion , but apparently late Sunday night, the coach changed his mind and decided to let the cat out of the bag , informing the team of his decision.
The club and Gaze was insistant that the parting of the ways was mutual, and that Gaze wanted to spend more time with his family. However in a seeming contradiction, Gaze said the Kings wanted to conduct an evaluation once his three-year deal expired after next season and that was not a process he wanted to be subjected to.
Gaze had this remarks to reporters:
With management here, we’ve been aware of it for quite some time. I guess, as the season draws to an end and the club has to go about their business, that we decided a while ago that I won’t be continuing as the head coach of the Sydney Kings.
It’s one that I feel really comfortable with, because the care and the way in which they’ve approached the situation is one that I’m extraordinarily grateful for.
I’m grateful for the opportunity. I think back to when Harvey Lister first approached me to get involved, along with Jeff van Groningen, and to see where the club was then, to where we are right now; very proud of what we’ve been able to do.
Since assuming the reigns of the Kings in 2016, the 54-year-old, who some have hailed as the best player to ever come out of Australia , has compiled a 42-42 record.
Gaze maintained that it would be “business as usual” and that his decision would not be deleterious on the team’s championship aspirations.
Kings Chief Executive Paul Kind said Gaze was an “icon” of Austrialian basketball and also thanked him for his dedication.
Kind also had this to say of coach Gaze:
He has invested passionately in his role as our head coach and we respect his desire to return to Melbourne at the end of our season. We know that Andrew and our team are now focused on our upcoming finals campaign
