Washington plans to head back to the US at the end of this month, but the club is hoping to have the deal all sorted before his departure.

Tornadoes general manager Corey Ackerly said a new contract has only “tweaked a few things” but is convinced the coach will agree to terms.

The 28-year-old’s current contract also expires at the end of October that takes in other basketball coaching in the North of the state.

“We’ve got agreements there – we just need to get them all signed off,” Ackerly said. “So we’re hoping they’ll be happening in the next week or two.”

Ackerly said delays to a deal since the end of the club’s last game on August 18 was “just the process” rather than any sticking point.

The Tornadoes only held a board meeting a fortnight ago to ascertain the details to form a new agreement. 

“They are a little bit different to this year, but we’re confident that there is no major changes to what he’ll be doing next year,” he said.

“We just have to make sure we’re getting the timing right on things and we want him to work on for next year, but we’re confident that will get signed away.”

He was the fourth coach since the 2016 season after the club parted ways with Richard Dickel.

Washington first signed with the Torns in December last year and arrived in February, less than two months before the season tip-off.

The former WNBA development coach took Launceston to the 2018 grand final for the first time in eight years.

“The plan is to stay,” he told The Examiner moments after the title loss to Bendigo.

“We’ll obviously talk about it now that the season is over.

“But my intention is to definitely coach on.”