Source: Radio New Zealand
Breakers coach Petteri Koponen is leaving the club. Blake Armstrong/Photosport
NZ Breakers and head coach Petteri Koponen have parted ways, and the club will advertise globally for a replacement.
The Finn coached the Breakers for two seasons, with the side finishing ninth of the 10 teams last year, followed by seventh in the regular season just completed.
Koponen, 37, finished on a bright note, with a victory in the Ignite Cup over the Adelaide 36ers last Sunday.
After discussions with club management, he is leaving, with the club saying he didn’t seek a contract extension and was looking for new professional opportunities closer to Finland.
Koponen said he was after a new challenge.
“My time in New Zealand has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career,” he 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 Breakers said Koponen had instilled a modern, high-intensity European style of play that culminated in the inaugural Ignite Cup victory.
“Petteri is a young coach on the rise and we support his desire to pursue opportunities closer to home,” said Breakers basketball operations president Dillon Boucher.
“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 club said it would look for a new coach capable of taking the Breakers to the top of the NBL rankings.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
