Adelaide coach Joey Wright revealed the 36ers have hatched a shock coaching succession plan with long-time assistant and former playing great Kevin Brooks earmarked to take over from him "in the next couple of years".
Brooks, who played 98 NBL games for the Sixers, including the 1998-99 back-to-back titles, has been Adelaide's No.1 assistant since Wright assumed the top job in 2013.
Brooks has previously worked as an assistant under Brendan Joyce at Wollongong and briefly with Phil Smyth's 36ers in 2005.
Wright re-signed with Adelaide last March for five more seasons but his strong public endorsement of Brooks suggests a change could come much sooner than the 2022 contract expiry.
The information was volunteered by Wright on Friday night while he was light-heartedly praising Brooks for his game-night improvement in attire from club polo in recent years to a dress shirt and tie this season.
"We're going to get him a suit jacket if we can find one long enough," Wright said of Brooks, who has coached at SA State League level with Woodville (where he won a title in his inaugural season), Norwood and Central Districts.
"He needs to start dressing the part because he should be coaching in this league as a head coach in the next couple of years. Hopefully here.
"Wright was further questioned whether he was referring specifically to a coaching succession plan, similar to AFL club Melbourne.
"For sure. I would love to have someone who echoes some of the things we've done and the culture we've built here," Wright said.
"He'd have his own spin on it but I know with the cultural things we've built and what's important for our team that he would stay with that. That would be pretty cool to see.
"He's pretty much the voice of our trainings and does all our scouts so he's a huge part of what we do. I definitely think our club would be in great hands with him."
