Kelly Hopes to Conjure up a Little ‘Magic’ in Return to SE Melbourne

Article via Michael Randall - News Corp Australia: Mike Kelly named South East Melbourne Phoenix new NBL coach

South East Melbourne Phoenix is hoping Mike Kelly can conjure up a little ‘Magic’ in a geographical return to his basketball roots as the club’s new coach.

The Phoenix have unveiled the former South East Melbourne Magic champion on a two-year deal in a full circle moment for the Californian, who spent nine years in Melbourne’s Heartland honing his craft on the court.

The 55-year-old was an assistant to the legendary Brian Goorjian on the Boomers’ history-making Tokyo Olympic bronze-medal team and replaces Simon Mitchell as the second coach in franchise history.

Kelly will have to hit the ground running — he takes the reins on the same day NBL free agency opens.

“Free agency happens very fast and, with all the conversations that go and people starting to lean one way or the other, we need to be very quick in the direction we want to go,” Kelly, a former NBL Coach of the Year in Cairns, told News Corp.

(Mike Kelly playing for South East Melbourne Magic in the NBL Grand Final.)

“We have a good idea of the guys we’d like to speak with and, with a good base right now in Mitch Creek and Alan Williams, two of the best players in the NBL, and Reuben Te Rangi and a couple of great young players in Owen Foxwell and Anzac Rissetto, there’s a great nucleus there to build off.”

Kelly, plucked out of Perth where he was assisting John Rillie, played in the old SEABL with Nunawading, won the 1996 NBL title playing under Goorjian and assisted Dean Vickerman on the 2018 Melbourne United championship team.

He’s focused on creating a squad that can rely on its defence at the Phoenix, something the club has struggled to do in its first four seasons in the league.

“Having a consistent defensive presence is the decider if we win consistently or we don’t,” he said.

“We’ll be able to put together a great offensive team who can score points, but it’s super important for us to put a great defensive team that has toughness and fights and gets it done on the defensive end consistently.

“Coming back as a head coach, it’s full circle. Back when I was playing, from the very start, the south east was the basketball Heartland there and the fans there embrace it and I can’t wait to be a part of it again.”

(Mike Kelly is a former NBL Coach of the Year winnner.)

SEM boss Tommy Greer said the club settled on Kelly after an exhaustive process.

“Mike aligned with our key priorities — we were looking for NBL experience, a defensive-minded head coach and someone with the ability to build strong relationships with players,” Greer said.

“He’s also got strong connections with the south east so he knows the landscape well.

“We’ve already had a number of conversations throughout the process and we’re incredibly aligned when it comes to how we’re thinking about the construction of the team.”

With only four players contracted, the first phone call Greer and Kelly will make at 9am on Thursday when free agency opens is to Cairns’ defensive dynamo Bul Kuol, who is among the most-coveted free agents in the league.

They will also approach Brisbane big Gorjok Gak, who is seen as another piece that can strengthen their defensive depth.

The Phoenix would love to be in the running for William McDowell-White, but the reality is they have a good chunk of salary cap tied up in superstars Creek and Williams and it’s understood the 24-year-old point guard has put a price on his services that would rule several clubs out.

(Kelly coached the Australian Boomers to the FIBA Asia Cup Championship in 2022.)

Kelly’s wife Annette has been by his side for 28 years as he’s travelled his “two homes” — Australia and the US playing and coaching. Children Ashton, Kirsten and Josh — who wants to follow in his dad’s footsteps on the court — are his biggest supports.

“My mum would still get upset if I called Australia home, but it is,” he said.

“Our kids were born here, and this is where we base ourselves.

“But, when we go back to the states, we also say ‘we’re going home’.”

He maintains a thick American accent, even though he’s been in Australia for the best part of the last 33 years.

“It’s funny, if I don’t listen to myself or think about my accent, I just feel really comfortable here, It’s just where I’ve kind of grown up as a person,” he said.

“I think Americans have to try to lose their accents, actually, and I never have.

“If I have a couple of beers, I think I can do the Australian accent a little better, but this is what it is, for better or worse.

“When I go back to the states, people say ‘oh, you say that funny’, I think there’s a few Aussie sayings I’ve picked up, for sure.”

(Michael Randall - Newscorp Australia (30/03/2023)