Launceston Tornadoes are holding off until the post-season before starting talks to lock in coach Reece Potter beyond 2017.
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The head coach is in his second year of a three-year contract with the club.
But the Tornadoes are signalling their intent to ink a new deal before the start of next season.
“At the moment, we are completely just focused on this season and getting through and not having the distracting conversations,” club chair Janie Finlay said.
“But considering what he has done for the program, we would love to be able to continue that. There are all sorts of things that have to be considered going forward.
“They’re definitely conversations that we are looking for the club and also the coaching position.”
The Tornadoes returned to finals basketball under Potter’s first season in charge last year and have gone a step further to reach this year’s SEABL south conference final on Saturday at Kilsyth.
No matter what the Torns’ result – to possibly reach next week’s SEABL championship game – the club has made Potter its immediate priority.
An extension to his contract will prevent rivals from poaching the former WNBL Sydney Uni Flames assistant.
Part of the big sell to keep Potter at the Elphin Sports Centre into the 2018 season will be Launceston’s values.
“Launceston offers so much more than just the job,” Finlay said.
“Reece talks about that all the time with our community, our support, our sponsors, our board, the club and its environment that they are in.
“It’d be pretty hard to headhunt someone from Lonnie – it’s that whole package.
“But we are definitely as a team, both Reece and the board, looking at what’s in the Torns’ best interest, what’s in Reece’s best interest and obviously working through possible scenarios.”
While no formal deal has been tabled, the club plans to be proactive in the offseason.
“We’re not only looking at locking in the coaching panel, but looking at attracting in people to competitively trial out for the program for next year,” Finlay said.