NZ Breakers to part ways with coach Petteri Koponen after missing NBL playoffs
Petteri Koponen will leave the Breakers after two seasons. Photo / Photosport
The New Zealand Breakers are on a global search to find a new head coach with incumbent Petteri Koponen announcing he will not be seeking a contract extension at the NBL club.
The 36-year-old departs after two seasons at the Auckland-based club with a 24-39 record and he leaves to pursue new opportunities closer to his homeland in Finland.
While his time at the Breakers has been rocky, missing the playoffs in both seasons, he leaves having led the Breakers to the inaugural Ignite Cup.
“My time in New Zealand has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career,” Koponen said. “I fell in love with this country and the incredible community that supports the Breakers.
“However, after two seasons of intense growth in the NBL, and the immense satisfaction of bringing the Ignite Cup to Auckland, I am ready for a new challenge.
“I want to thank the club, the players, and the fans for embracing me. I am proud of the culture we’ve built, and I leave with the highest respect for this club.”
The news comes after Breakers’ President of Basketball Operations, Dillon Boucher announced plans are in place for a massive overhaul in order to make the club a championship contender.
“Petteri is a young coach on the rise and we support his desire to pursue opportunities closer to home,” Boucher said.
“Professional coaching at this level demands immense sacrifice, especially half a world away from home. We’ve reached a mutual agreement that the time is right for Petteri to pursue his next professional challenge.
“He departs with his mana higher than ever and will always hold a permanent place within our Breakers whānau.”
The Breakers say a global search will now take place to find a coach to “build upon the high-performance culture, and capable of taking the club to the top of the NBL rankings”.
Only three players – including import Parker Jackson-Cartwright, and Tall Blacks duo Ruben Te Rangi and Izayah Le’Afa - are contracted for next season.