Incumbent Wagga Heat coach Colin Reed has withdrawn his hat from the ring to head up the club’s 2019 premiership tilt due to work commitments, leaving the club with big shoes to fill and an even bigger legacy to uphold.
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Reed was instrumental in the side’s charge into the division one Waratah League finals earlier this year and intended to re-apply for the position next season.
However, fate had other plans in store for the seasoned coach.
“I was all prepared to go around again but I recently found out about a work opportunity in Newcastle and I’m actually going to be relocating,” Reed said.
“Everything was just finalised on Tuesday, so I’ve withdrawn my application for the Heat role.”
Under Reed's watchful eye, the Heat racked up 10 wins and six losses before edging Central Coast in a 97-87 elimination final thriller earlier this season.
A qualifying final win over Bankstown proved a bridge too far with the Heat fizzing out in a 37-point loss but the result nevertheless locked in the club's best result since their 2015 grand final appearance.
Now a veteran of four years with the club, Reed joined the Heat as an assistant coach in 2015 and rode a roller coaster season in what was his first year in a senior position.
The side’s charge to that year’s decider still rates among his best memories.
“It was my first real coaching job with a senior team and going all the way through to the grand final was pretty amazing,” Reed said.
“This year was pretty good but that first season would have to be up there in terms of my own personal development as well.”
Development is the area in which Reed has placed most emphasis during his coaching tenure and he’ll look back on his Heat stint with plenty of pride.
“Not sure if I’d brag about it all but I’ll definitely hang my hat on it (coaching the side) – it’s been great.”
“It’s been amazing to see players develop through the years and particularly see how the individual players in the squad have improved.
“Also just watching the club grow as a unit, that’s been pretty special.”
Securing a coach who can match Reed’s passion for the game will be vital for the club’s title hopes and the man himself knows there’s still work to be done before a team can even take to the court.
“Getting that new coach in is the first thing and I also think they’ll need to look at how they manage their imports and what kind of players they’re after,” Reed said.
A relocation won’t necessarily spell the end of Reed’s coaching career with Waratah League rivals Newcastle Hunters soon to be a close neighbour.
“I’m not sure whether I’d be jumping straight into another role and I’ll take some settling time, but I’d definitely like to keep working with the game and helping to develop players,” he said.
“The body’s telling me to give it all up but the mind wants to keep going, so we’ll just wait and see what happens.”
Applications for Wagga Heat and Wagga Blaze coaching positions are still open.
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