BASKETBALL: Dennis moves on to Perth position

It's straight from the coop to the feisty colony of the wild cats for Shawn Dennis at the end of this National Basketball League (NBL) season.
The 0800 Easy LPG Hawks head coach returns to his homeland after signing a contract with the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) champions Perth Wildcats.
In an exclusive interview with SportToday, Dennis said before tonight's match against the Nelson Giants in Napier it was a career-defining decision to go back to the ANBL where he was assistant coach of the now defunct Sydney Spirit team for two seasons.
The straight-talking Dennis will team up again with Rob Beveridge, who was also the head coach of the Spirit before the team withdrew from the ANBL last season.
"I was Rob's assistant so I suppose that played a big part because there were quite a number of good applicants for the job. Rob was happy to have me back."
Dennis started coaching the Hawks from 2004 before taking the Bay fans to the euphoric height of clinching the NBL title for the first time in the franchise's history in 2006.
In his six-year stint, he took the Hawke's Bay team to three NBL grand finals.
"It was everything I hoped it would ever be and it became a stepping stone to further my career and I've certainly achieved that goal.
"My time with the Hawks has been an incredible journey."
While there was a degree of sentimental attachment to the Hawks, Dennis felt his career was always going to dictate his migratory patterns.
"The bottom line is that it's a professional decision. "My time in Hawke's Bay has been pretty special but from a career perspective it's been an easy decision [to move on]."
A candid head coach who didn't hesitate to read the riot act to his troops or dump import players if they failed to live up to expectations, Dennis was also at the heart of reviving the flagging fortunes of the franchise two years ago, amid claims of mismanagement, that almost led to the Hawks not competing last season.
He and franchise co-owner Jeremy Bayliss made an impassioned plea through Hawke's Bay Today for stalwarts, sponsors and players to rally behind the Hawks, who rose from the ashes to compete in the NBL championship.
It didn't help that pivotal Tall Blacks players Paul Henare and Paora Winitana migrated south to the the then new franchise, the Christchurch Cougars.
With the pair making career decisions amid talks of pay cuts, a campaign of life after Paulie and Paora gathered momentum and the Hawks made the play-offs only to bow out in their first match against the Wellington Saints after finishing sixth on the nine-team table.
This season has been a yo-yo one but the Hawks, again with a composite look about them, are on track to make the play-offs.
Dennis said it was business as usual as the Hawks try to exact revenge tonight at the Pettigrew-Green Arena after last Saturday's defeat to the Giants in Nelson.
Assistant Hawks coach Kirstin Taylor (nee Daly), who has been off and on the Hawks' coaching roster, is Dennis' choice as successor. He believes Bay-born Henare, who is coming back from ankle surgery in a fortnight after a season with the New Zealand Breakers, would be an ideal assistant with his skills and experience.
"Kirstin has an astute opinion and has played at the highest level at the Olympic Games. She's diligent and very stern so they are great traits to have.
"She also has the respect of the team and has coached in the league before," said Dennis, adding it would be great to have someone from the Bay at the helm of the Hawks.
The Tall Ferns coach hastened to add the pair were simply his recommendations and whether they wanted to assume that mantle was entirely their choice.
"Kirstin and Paulie have had similar types of careers and have sound knowledge of the game but she has an edge with her coaching experience.
"They will certainly compliment each other and do the job well."
Dennis passion for the Hawks remains and last night he was in Palmerston North watching the Giants play against the Manawatu Jets before tonight's match against the Hawks.
While he was able to coach the Hawks and Spirit two years ago in a year, this time the task of juggling a champion Wildcats outfit with the Hawks would not have been practical.
"With Sydney it was very tiring.
"Coaching is a lot more than what people think - two hours twice a week and then turn up for on the game night.
"It's a volatile environment and there's a lot of pressure to succeed and if you don't then you lose your job," said Dennis, who had also applied for the job of head coach of the National Training Centre Programme in Bendigo, Victoria.