Chris McCoy has no regrets after announcing his decision to exit Basketball Tasmania's chief executive role at the organisation's annual dinner.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hailing from Devonport, McCoy leaves the job after nine years following a career in administration and sports marketing.
"I thought it was a good time, the sport is in such great shape, and it's best you go out when it's a great level on a high and let someone with new energies and ideas come in," he said.
McCoy's departure coincided with the debut of the Tasmania JackJumpers in the NBL Blitz pre-season competition at the renovated Derwent Entertainment Centre.
"It was really pleasing to sit back and see the team on-court at the MyState Bank Arena ... I look forward to being a fan spectator going forward," he said.
McCoy recalls the early conversations at a national forum with NBL owner Larry Kestelman which sparked the idea of the NBL's newest franchise.
"A lot of people were involved .... He came up to me after [the forum] and asked to chat further, I think he was impressed by how passionate the state was for basketball and the numbers we were generating," he said.
"That transferred into several trips down and several meetings with him, he's a terrific person to work with and passionate about the sport so it grew from there into what it is."
In a refurbished arena with a team in the national competition, the landscape of basketball has definitely changed under McCoy.
"We were virtually bankrupt as the state body, we had two and a half staff as professionals in the sport and now we've got a healthy balance sheet and over 30 full time professionals between us and the JackJumpers and associations," he said.
McCoy said one of the biggest accomplishments was the growth of junior basketball across the state.
The areas has seen 55 per cent growth across the nine-year time-frame while Tasmanians make up 10 per cent of the national squads and teams despite accounting for 2 per cent of the national population.
"I've always judged our success on participation and development pathways, those are three key indicators for us," he said.
"The introduction of the Tasmanian Junior Basketball League has been terrific ... we've really through the journey pushed the boundaries of what's always been done and in a lot of circles that hasn't always been favourable.
"That's my job in leading and pushing the sport."
READ MORE: Nathan Philip stars again in Cricket North
While the NBL venture and participation growth have been ticked off, McCoy is still keen to see more basketball facilities.
"The only frustrating thing is I would have liked to have built some more venues but they take time and there's several in the works now," he said.
Basketball identities paid tribute to an "outstanding" individual who improved the sport.
"We wish Chris the very best for the future and thank him for his service to basketball in Tasmania," JackJumpers chief executive Simon Brookhouse said.
Launceston Basketball Association president Craig Gibson added: "I'd like to wish Chris all the very best in his future endeavours.
"It's a massive loss to basketball, he's been phenomenal in turning the game around from what he took over and where we are now ... he's had a massive impact on it."
Launceston Tornadoes chairman Neil Grose was another to wish the outgoing chief executive well on his future plans.
"Chris McCoy has been a strong chief executive of Basketball Tasmania and the Launceston Tornadoes wish Chris the best in his new endeavours," he said.
"Basketball in northern Tasmania has seen exponential growth over the past years, especially in junior ranks, where the impact of Basketball Tasmania's many junior development programs is clearly evident."
READ MORE: Knights stumble home at Windsor Park
Former North-West Thunder president Tony Barker also paid tribute to McCoy's time in charge of the organisation.
"I do wish him well with whatever he does next,'' Barker said.
"He certainly has been instrumental in change in basketball across Tasmania even though that hasn't all been welcome or has run smoothly.
"But being in the role he has been in he has been very strong and determined in achieving what he has wanted to achieve."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner