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DAMIAN Cotter has been haunted by the theme song of the hit 70s TV sitcom “Welcome Back Kotter” for as long as he can remember.

When the Sydney Kings recently revealed him as their 10th NBL coach, even the club’s team manager trotted it out as a means to, well, welcome him back.

Cotter was an assistant to Shane Heal at the Kings, so while he takes a seat a couple of feet to the right from where he previously sat, the change in pressure and expectation is off the chart.

But Cotter is well-equipped to handle it, following in the shoes of a growing list of talented young coaches who already have “paid their dues” in state league and/or SEABL competitions.

He has coached Victorian state junior teams (winning the national championship with the Under-20s in 2003), head coached Knox Raiders in the SEABL from 2000-06 (including the 2006 South Conference title) and was the Australian Under-19 Men's head coach from 2009-2013 (with a fourth place at last year’s 2013 FIBA World Championship).

Even in his spare time currently he retains his international involvement as an assistant coach to Brendan Joyce with the World Championship and Olympics-bound Opals.

“I didn’t know Brendan,” Cotter said, blowing a hole in the commonly-held misconception he had history with Joyce dating back to their days in Victorian basketball.

“We had a coffee one day about 18 months ago.”

The invitation to join the Opals’ coaching staff “came out of left-field” and Cotter’s continued involvement comes with the full support of the Kings.

“They were overwhelmingly supportive,” Cotter said of the Kings’ hierarchy.

“I got nothing but positive reinforcement.

“The Opals program is too good to leave.

“Working with Brendan has been excellent for me.

“He’s an experienced NBL and international coach and I’m very grateful to be involved.

“Elite is elite,” Cotter said of switching between coaching men to women. And back.

“Lauren Jackson is as good as any player I’ve been around and it’s not just her (at the Opals).

“There’s so much depth and it is so competitive for spots.”

That competition extends though also to his new-look Sydney team.

Homegrown recruits such as Jason Cadee, Angus Brandt and Josh “Slaim” Duinker join Ben Madgen, Tom Garlepp, Cody Ellis and Kevin White in Cotter’s first Sydney team but which Aussie completes the main 10 and who else comes into the squad will be contingent on the make up of the imports.

“We’re going for a one and a three,” Cotter candidly said of the Kings’ import targets.

“Those are the positions we’re looking at.

“We’re looking at the NBA teams getting their summer league squads together and also at who’s already been (in the NBL).

“I’m open-minded and will have a look at the SEABL clubs.

“I’m from the SEABL and I respect the league.

“We’ll take a look at the Waratah (NSW state league) too. We’re just starting that process.”

A playmaker and a scorer is in his blueprint but again, if they are pro veterans, the Aussie content to complete the squad is likely to be younger.

If the imports are young themselves, then retaining veterans becomes a priority.

“So yes, Brad Hill, James Harvey and Ben Allen are still on our radar,” Cotter said.

It all hinges on the final import choices.

“We wanted to get big talent and we wanted to go local – which we’ve done,” he said.

As for the playmaker, Gary Ervin, the league’s MVP with Wollongong in 2011, who spent the 2012-13 season at Townsville where he was club MVP and then spent 2013-14 with Adelaide, helping the 36ers from last place into the Grand Finals, also is under consideration.

But Cotter gives a relaxed impression he is in no particular hurry, recognising “getting the imports right” often is the key to success or failure.

“I feel very lucky,” he said of winning the coveted Kings’ job and also of his chance to attend the 2016 Rio Olympics with the Opals.

Make no mistake, Cotter has paid his dues.

Just not with Vinnie Barbarino, Arnold Horshack, Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington or Juan Epstein.

TOMORROW: Ladies, Men, Athletes, Others: With the latest Lightning signings and a few surprises.