STERLING DAVIS departed Glasgow Rocks yesterday after 10 years in charge of the British Basketball League outfit.
The American was given the surprise news that he would not be offered a new deal to remain at the Emirates Arena despite several public votes of confidence in recent weeks.
Coming less than 48 hours after the Rocks' season screeched to a halt with defeat to London Lions in the quarter-finals of the BBL Playoffs, the decision by the club’s recently-arrived owner Duncan Smillie was swift.
No trophies during his tenure provided a damning indictment against Davis who first joined as a player in 2006 before his elevation to the coach less than 12 months later. There may have been three major finals reached in the past four campaigns – including in the BBL Cup last January – but never once did he get his hands on silverware despite a competitive budget. And that, the outgoing playcaller conceded, left him in a position where he could be adjudged expendable.
“I felt it was a possibility that a change would come,” he confirmed. “But I wanted Duncan to have the guy he wanted to be in charge of the team going forward rather than someone he didn’t feel comfortable with. The season was respectable but the way we went out of the play-offs, and especially our performance in the first leg in London, put a dampener on things.
“Over the years, I haven’t won silverware and that is what this job is about. That is my biggest regret. I worked hard to bring a trophy to the club and I wanted nothing more than that to happen.”
Certainly tough questions needed to be asked: over tactics, over the recruitment policy, over his motivational skills, even if there was no doubt that the 39-year-old Texan had improved immeasurably in his coaching craft since ending his playing career two years ago, devoting more time to the video and statistical tools which have become integral to the sport.
There were approaches elsewhere with his predecessor Thorsten Leibenath understood to have been rebuffed in an offer to bring Davis to Germany as his assistant at Ulm. But despite the arduous workload of balancing scouting opponents with overseeing the Rocks' many community programmes, he remained in situ until now.
“He has been a magnificent leader and ambassador during his time here, at all times he has been a consummate professional and gentlemen whom we owe much to,” said Smillie. “Sterling felt that a new leader with a new approach would benefit the club as it moves forward. I am sure I speak on behalf of everyone connected with the Rocks past and present when I wish Sterling and his family all the very best of luck in their future.”
The businessman is understood to have taken soundings from within the playing squad and beyond since buying out long-time owner Ian Reid last month, with point guard Neil Watson – who was expected to be let go by Davis – revealing he had held direct discussions with Smillie over his own future. Ultimately, change seemed a gamble worth taking.
With stated ambitions to deliver a BBL Championship, it is expected an experienced replacement will be sought with ex-Newcastle Eagles coach Tony Garbelotto, currently at the helm of Vietnam, likely to be in the frame. Current assistant coach Erik Olson could be an alternative option but his commitment to lead Scotland in next year’s Commonwealth Games could rule him out.
Davis may look to coach elsewhere or find another less-stressful niche within sport. “I’m going to take a month and sit back and take stock,” he said. “I’m still wounded from the season and that would be the case if I was staying on or not. I’m mentally drained and probably more so now. So in the short-term, I’ll think about things. And after that I’ll analyse what the next step is, whether it’s in coaching or something else. I’d certainly like to stay in sport. This has been a tough job but I’ve certainly learnt a lot.”
Elsewhere, Manchester Giants, who finished bottom of the league, parted ways with player-coach Yorick Williams.
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