Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Tasmania JackJumpers’ championship-winning coach Scott Roth hopes the club can be his legacy, after confirming a two-year contract extension will be his last.
The 63-year-old American, who has been at the JackJumpers’ helm since they entered the NBL in 2021, on Wednesday extended his time at the club until the end of the 2028/29 season.
He took Tasmania to the title in just their third season and has united the state under his “defend the island” motto.
“This has been a lifetime journey, and so the eighth (season) … will be enough for me,” an emotional Roth told reporters.
“I wouldn’t be standing here without the support of my wife and daughter, they have been with me on this journey and sacrificed a great deal.”
Roth said he decided to stay on for a further two seasons to guide the club through a transitional period so they could prepare a runway for the next head coach.
The JackJumpers recently moved into their new high-performance centre, while the Tasmania Jewels will debut in the WNBL this season.
“Having some continuity for the next two years and not trying to flip another coach over … was something that I was quite passionate about,” Roth said.
“My love for Tasmania, the state and its people, I can never give back as much as they’ve given my family.”
He said his time away from his wife and daughter in America had taken a toll, including early in his stint with Tasmania when he didn’t see the pair for more than a year.
“This will be my last job in Australia, I won’t coach anywhere else in Australia,” Roth said.
“And hopefully this will be my legacy when I leave here.”
Roth hoped his current band of assistant coaches – Mark Radford, former vice-captain Jarrad Weeks and Nate Brereton – would be among the top candidates to replace him.
JackJumpers chair Steve Old said Roth had helped build a club, a culture and something Tasmania has made its own.
“Scott understands Tasmania, Tasmania understands Scott – and it’s a pretty special combination,” he said.
The JackJumpers begin their 2026/27 season against South East Melbourne on Monday, with Roth saying injured pair Josh Bannan and Anthony Drmic would be game-day decisions.
