Basketball On The Internet.

SETTLE in for an off-season elite-level coaching roundabout with the NBL and WNBL, several changes in the wind and mystery surrounding why something as quick as Lightning is moving at such a glacier pace to confirm Aja Parham-Ammar has been reappointed for two seasons.

Having brought the inaugural Ignite Cup championship to the New Zealand Breakers, and $300,000 prizemoney with it, Peteri Koponen has vacated the coaching seat across the Tasman.

Do the Breakers endeavour to recall one of their finest coaches in Paul Henare, or even revisit Mody Maor?

Or does longtime NBL assistant Judd Favell (left) finally get an overdue call-up? If he's good enough for the Tall Blacks, surely his time has come?

Brisbane Bullets are, as usual, back in the hunt for a coach, initial whispers they targeted former Sydney Kings coach Will Weaver falling much quieter lately.

There appears to again be a question-mark over Adam Forde's continued tenure in Cairns and the rumours are running rampant Dean Vickerman will head to greener pastures in Japan next season, leaving Melbourne United in the market for a new mentor.

Scott Roth (right) has ruled out speculation over his future, fully committing to the final year of his contract with the Tasmania JackJumpers and 2026-27.

Josh King (South East Melbourne Phoenix) can probably write his own ticket about now, John Rillie looks safe in Perth, Mike Wells may need the championship to survive at Adelaide, Coach of the Year Brian Goorjian has a year to run on his deal at Sydney and Illawarra is keen to retain its 2025 championship mentor Justin Tatum.

In the WNBL, Shannon Seebohm is locked in at champion Townsville, as is the core of his team.

Kennedy Kereama at Bendigo is one of the league's shrewdest coaching minds and while Ryan Petrik (right) now has struck out three times in grand finals, he has managed to get his team there in three of the past five seasons.

Sydney Flames have endorsed Renae Garlepp going forward, Kristi Harrower did well to snatch a playoff win off the eventual champions and Canberra would have to be happy having Paul Goriss at the helm, considering he remains on the Opals staff. 

The fact multi-championship-winning coach Chris Lucas chose back in December to not take up his coaching option for a third season at Geelong Venom, suggests the club's off-court management leaves something to be desired.

The fact star guard Jaz Shelley also has quit the club tends to reinforce that, as does Geelong-based championship-winning players such as Sara Blicavs and Chantel Horvat making the choice to continue their WNBL careers elsewhere.

The implications are whoever takes the gig at Geelong will be at one of two extremes - either a super experienced coach (Brendan Joyce springs to mind) who can get everyone pulling in the same direction, or a new face rookie who can be manipulated by management.

Time will tell. 

In Adelaide, Parham-Ammar's reappointment has been one of the Lightning's worst kept secrets.

Considering she originally was thrust upon Adelaide by its interstate controllers when those same current owners erroneously dumped Kerryn Mitchell as coach - she had a very ordinary Lightning group surprisingly well-placed at a 3-4 win-loss mark when inexplicably axed - the club's dawdling is an oddity.

Yes, it is true Adelaide has two elite level championship-winning coaches sitting at home idle ... but the fact is they are the wrong sex.

There's another championship-winner at home as well, and she also still has what it takes, having just steered a perennial losing club to its historic first ever NBL 1 Central championship.

Given Parham-Ammar's record was 3-13 - remember Mitchell was axed at 3-4! - and she took Lightning to its usual finish of seventh, as had Scott Ninnis and Nat Hurst before her, the difference this time was Adelaide only missed finishing rock bottom by 1.18 per cent.

The club must be having a tough time cooking up a suitable narrative to justify her retention.

Meanwhile across Bass Strait, the new Tasmania Jewels have made a huge signing by bringing in WNBL championship-winning coach Claudia Brassard to chart their historic first steps.

Already embracing Roth's "defend the island" mantra, Tasmania should be full steam ahead.