A favourite son has felt compelled to turn his back on other vacant state head coaching jobs finally in order to come home to Tasmania.
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Michael Di Venuto joins the Tigers coaching ranks off a four-year stint in charge of Surrey, which had included in 2018 guiding the county to a first English title in 16 years.
The dashing ex-Australian left-hander also dipped his toe in with spells among the Australian coaching staff and under Jason Gillespie at the Adelaide Strikers recently.
But it's been more than a decade since the 46-year-old was able to play a significant part in Tasmania's plans.
"Basically, because there's a spot that's come available," Di Venuto said on Monday.
"I guess I have been looking to come back home for a while. I obviously spent a long time away from home."
Di Venuto has no preconceived expectations for his role, but plans to "float around" between the men's, women's and talent squads.
The newest challenge, Di Venuto jokingly ensured, will "keep me out of the house for an hour or so a day".
"Whatever the boss says, basically. Like any assistant, you're there to support the head coach and his plans," Di Venuto said.
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"Like all coaches, we are just there to help the players become better players. I'll bring what I bring to any set up with my skill set and whatever else the team needs."
Ben Rohrer has recently been elevated to senior assistant to coach Adam Griffith.
But Di Venuto is giving no promises not to have an ambition to coach Sheffield Shield team in his own right one way or another.
"You obviously never say never," Di Venuto said.
"There has been a couple of jobs going at the moment. They're looking for coaches in South Australia and Victoria. I didn't apply for them.
"It's just the wrong time for me at the moment while I have got the opportunity to be back home. I want to be home for quite a while.
"Six or nine months down the track, it just might be a different situation - we have to wait and see on that.
"Timing-wise for those jobs, it's just the wrong time for my family, but work-wise, geez, they would have been unbelievable jobs to go into.
"So not to be at this stage."
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
