BREAKING: Koponen, New Zealand part ways

The New Zealand Breakers and coach Petteri Koponen will part ways, with the former head coach seeking to pursue new opportunities closer to his home country of Finland.

Koponen finishes his two-year tenure in New Zealand on a high note, after guiding the club to their historic Ignite Cup Final win over Adelaide on Sunday.

Breakers President of Basketball Operations Dillon Boucher explained Koponen’s departure marks the end of a chapter defined by professional excellence and a relentless work ethic that resonated throughout the entire organisation.

"Petteri is a young coach on the rise and we support his desire to pursue opportunities closer to home,” Boucher said via a club statement.

"Professional coaching at this level demands immense sacrifice, especially half a world away from home.

“We’ve reached a mutual agreement that the time is right for Petteri to pursue his next professional challenge.

"He departs with his mana higher than ever and will always hold a permanent place within our Breakers whānau."

Koponen, who finishes with a 23-39 record with New Zealand, intends to use what he’s learnt in the NBL and apply that to a new basketball landscape.

"My time in New Zealand has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. I fell in love with this country and the incredible community that supports the Breakers,” Koponen said.

“However, after two seasons of intense growth in the NBL, and the immense satisfaction of bringing the Ignite Cup to Auckland, I am ready for a new challenge.

“I want to thank the club, the players, and the fans for embracing me. I am proud of the culture we’ve built, and I leave with the highest respect for this club."

The Breakers will now undertake a global search to identify a head coach to build upon the high-performance culture, and capable of taking the club to the top of the NBL rankings.