Justin Tatum has declared his interest in remaining Illawarra Hawks coach beyond this season as the struggling NBL club begins life after Jacob Jackomas.
On Tuesday, the Hawks sacked Brian Goorjian's former apprentice after a 2-7 start to his second season in charge, which followed a 3-25 rookie campaign ending in a last-placed finish.
Tatum, father of NBA superstar Jayson, has been appointed interim coach for Sunday's game against the New Zealand Breakers after joining this season as an assistant to Jackomas.
"It's an unexpected blessing," Tatum said of his promotion.
"My focus will be on competing and having fun. I didn't see our group do that in the first nine games consistently enough.
"At the end of the day, these guys want a consistent, familiar voice and hopefully I can be that person."
Best known for his success coaching in American high schools, Tatum was a North American talent scout and advisor for the Hawks before taking up his position as an assistant.
He has not been informed of the length of his interim tenure.
"Management have to do what they need to do. But I think we're going to be fine here in that space," he said.
"I look at how to be prepared for every game coming up, I don't think that I have to worry about looking over my shoulder.
"My goal is to become a head coach some how, some way.
"If I do well enough or we do well enough and management thinks I'm that man for next year, I definitely will step up.
"If not, I have to take what's going on."
It comes as the Hawks contact former Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson to gauge his interest in the job.
Goorjian, the last coach to lead the Hawks to the play-offs in 2022, is not believed to be interested in becoming his former mentee's full-time replacement.
A five-time NBL championship-winning coach, Gleeson most recently served as an assistant at the NBA's Toronto Raptors but left after the side sacked head coach Nick Nurse in April.
"He's a great coach but I'll leave that up to them (management)," co-captain Sam Froling said when asked if he wanted Gleeson at the Hawks.
"I'm not going to be too concerned with who they're putting in charge. I'm just going to come out and make sure every practice is high effort and give it my all and control what I can control."
A loss to fellow strugglers the Breakers could leave the Hawks two games adrift at the bottom of the ladder heading into the FIBA break.
But Tatum insists the post-season remains in reach with the season not yet at its halfway point..
"Our goal is to make it to the play-offs and we have a really great chance of doing that once we get going," Tatum said.
