Breakers announce new coach and CEO

Breakers assistant coach Paul Henare, left, will replace head coach Dean Vickerman. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Former player Paul Henare has been named as the New Zealand Breakers head coach for the 2016-17 season, replacing current coach Dean Vickerman.

Vickerman has coached the Breakers for the past three years, including the current season, after taking over from Andrej Lemanis in 2013.

Fellow Breakers great Dillon Boucher also moves into a major role at the defending ANBL champions, replacing CEO Richard Clarke.

Both Henare and Boucher have had their playing numbers retired at the club following their stellar careers on court and both have since gone on to significant roles with the club in coaching and management.

Henare will take on the head coaching role next season with the experience of three seasons under Vickerman, two NZ NBL Championships as a head coach, and guiding the Tall Blacks as head coach of that programme for the past 12 months.

Henare spoke of his pride at being given the opportunity to coach the team he played for with so much passion.

"We have always spoken at this club about pathways, for players but also for coaches. For me this is another step on that pathway, one I am humbled to accept and proud to take on. I love the game of basketball, outside of my family this is my life and this club has given me so much over the years as a player and now as a coach. I look forward to the opportunity to learn further in this new role, and to give something back to the club and to the basketball community," Henare said.

Boucher was equally excited about the next phase in his career in his post-playing days.

Since his retirement from the playing roster three years ago, Boucher has been groomed to take on the General Manager role, working with Clarke to learn the commercial aspects of the club, in that time growing the sponsorship and corporate hospitality revenue of the club.

"My family and I are extremely excited about the new role, it is something that was spoken about me working towards when I retired from playing. I am taking on the role of General Manager at a very exciting time for the Club and also a very exciting time for the NBL with all the positive change," he said.

"I am really looking forward to establishing an even closer working relationship with my good friend Pauli and not only maintaining the high standards of the club but breaking new ground in the future. Richard has done a fantastic job of leading the Breakers and assisting in this transition for me to the new role, I will continue to work closely with Richard and continue to learn all I can from him before his departure in April."

Clarke is moving on to a new role with the Brisbane Bullets as they return to the league in 2016/17, pairing up with his former colleagues Lemanis and CJ Bruton while Vickerman's next move is yet to be decided.

Henare will commence the head coach role at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, while Boucher will assume the general manager role with Clarke continuing in the current CEO role through to April.