New Illawarra Hawks coach Jacob Jackomas on free agency plans and his journey to becoming an NBL coach

Last week Jacob Jackomas was announced as the new Illawarra Hawks new coach, replacing his mentor Brian Goorjian.

 

With Goorjian announcing he will be coaching the Bay Area Dragons based in the Philippines Jackomas will take full control with the Hawks and look to take them one step further after their semi-final loss to the Sydney Kings.

 

Jacob Jackomas previously acted as Goorjian's assistant coach for more than a decade, his extensive coaching resume includes stints in the NBL, China and the Australian Boomers program over the past 6 years. 

 

Jackomas has also had a little taste of being the Hawks head coach after he covered Brian Goorjian's absence earlier this year when he came down with the coronavirus.

In his one-off game as an NBL head coach Jacomas impressed fans by delivering a win against reigning champions Melbourne United.

With his new position only being announced a week ago he joins Dan Boyce on the podcast to discuss his unorthodox journey to becoming an NBL head coach, his relationships with the Hawks players, and thoughts on what the team need to improve on heading into NBL Free Agency.

He also shares his experiences as part of the Australian Boomers bronze medal-winning team last year and moments he'll never forget.

Topics include...

• The way he found out he would be replacing Brian Goorjian as the Illawarra Hawk's new coach (2:00)
• How he went from cleaning aeroplanes and pizza shops to working the NBL sidelines (4:00)
• Meeting Brian Goorjian for the first time and funny 'Goorj' stories (6:00)
• Experiences coaching in China alongside Goorj (7:30)
• His response to those who think he doesn't have enough experience to coach in the NBL (19:00)
• His relationship with the Hawks players (22:30)
• What do the Illawarra Hawks need to change or keep within their roster for 2022/23 (26:00)
• NBL Next Stars, the positives and negatives and how the Hawks will utilise the program for this season (33:00)
• What he will do differently to Brian Goorjian as the Hawks head coach (40:00)
• His hardest moment along his coaching journey (45:00)
• His experiences being part of the coaching staff for the Bronze Medal winning Boomers squad in Japan (49:00)

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Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring; Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin, AJ Ogilvy, Daniel Kickert

Current NBL Stars - Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Vic Law, Jack White, Dejan Vasiljevic, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Brad Newley, Dusty Hannahs

Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer

NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton, Donald Sloan

The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Darnell Mee, Isaac Burton, Adonis Jordan, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry, Gary Ervin, Ebi Ere, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch

And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner

All that and much more.

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