Ninnis signs on as 36ers head coach

The Adelaide 36ers have entrusted Scott Ninnis to take the club forward and have rewarded the NBL24 interim coach with a two-year deal to continue to lead the side.

Ninnis was reappointed as an assistant coach at the club ahead of NBL24 and took the reins 13 games into the season following the departure of CJ Bruton.

He took charge of 15 games and helped the 36ers lead an unlikely – but ultimately unsuccessful – charge towards Finals.

His signing comes after the consistent public backing of star guard DJ Vasiljevic, and reports that Australian coaching legend Brian Goorjian had removed his name from consideration earlier in the week.

Ninnis was also Adelaide’s head coach between 2008 and 2010, and he’s the only person to have been involved in all four of the club’s championships. He was a player on the 1986 and 1998 title-winning sides, and assisted head coach Phil Smyth in the 1999 and 2002 triumphs.

“I’m super excited to be back," Ninnis said. 14 years ago, I was out of the NBL completely, so to return as coach of the club I love, where I have had a 40-year association, is a dream come true.

“The last 15 games were something of an audition for me and proved to me that I still have the hunger to compete and win”. 

“I’ve learned a lot in the back half of the season and I’m a totally different coach to the one who was head coach all those years ago.

“For all of us, the hard work starts now."

36ers exectuive chairmain and club owner Grant Kelley says the appointment was made off the back off the positive results Ninnis secured during his time as interim coach.

“We have had tremendous success so far in 2024 with Scott at the helm. His turnaround of the team, and the inspiration he has given our fans, has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Kelley said.

“It’s wonderful also to have a South Australian back as head coach, given the depth at club-level in this state."