GTS
Years ago
Gordie McLeod joins the Cairns Taipans
The Cairns Taipans has finalised its coaching staff with the retention of assistant coach Jamie Pearlman and addition of former Wollongong Hawks head coach and 2014 NBL Coach of the Year Gordie McLeod.
Pearlman, a former club defensive player of the year, returns after three seasons as assistant coach with the club, this time agreeing to terms on a three-year contract.
McLeod arrives in Cairns on a one-year contract, recruited by head coach Aaron Fearne after his five-year tenure with the Wollongong Hawks ended in June.
Fearne, currently recruiting in the US, said his history of close coaching contests with McLeod meant it was a phone call he had to make.
"I saw this as too good an opportunity to not ask the question and at least gauge Gordie's interest," Fearne said.
“It was always a major chess game coaching against him. Our programme learned a lot just by coaching against his teams, so I jumped at the chance to work together.”
“He’s excited, I’m excited, and the players here I’ve spoken with are excited too.”
Fearne said the combination of McLeod and Pearlman—both former NBL point point guards—constituted a formidable brains trust for the club.
McLeod averaged 10.0 points, 5.1 assists and 1.4 steals in his 11-season, 259 game NBL career, representing Australia at the 1979 World Championships and 1980 Moscow Olympics.
He led the NBL in assists three times (1984, 1985, 1987) and in 1984 averaged an impressive double-double of 10.3 points and 10.2 assists per game for the Illawarra Hawks.
Pearlman averaged 7.2 points, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 233 NBL games for the Canberra Cannons (1993-2000) and Cairns Taipans (2000-2002).
He turned in his best numbers for Canberra in 1999 with 11.0 points, 4.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game.
For the past two season, Pearlman has also held the role of head coach of the Skytrans Cairns Marlins QBL side.
“Jamie and Gordie were both established NBL point guards with high basketball IQs, and they both remain students of the game,” Fearne said.
“I’m looking forward to working with them as a team; between us I think we have a great feel for the NBL and solid mix of skills and experience.”
