Roth addresses exit speculation

After five seasons, four Finals appearances and a historic championship, Scott Roth has already achieved more than most in the coaching game.

But the 62-year-old says he has unfinished business in Tasmania and will be back for NBL27.

Already contracted for next season, the JackJumpers’ coach had been the subject of speculation about his future, but he was quick to set the record straight in Thursday’s post-game.  

“I don't know why, because I am a crappy coach at the end of the day and it amazes me a tad, but you know, every year I've gotten tremendous offers to go some other places,” Roth said.

“I have another year in my contract and I'll be back to open up that high performance centre in Tasmania and the money can wait to go chase that. I can do that anytime I want to. But I plan on being back.”

Despite an incredibly tough season on the court, mainly due to a nightmare run of injuries to key players, no one can deny Roth’s success and the role he’s played in building a force in Tasmania.

His self-coined ’Defend the Island’ tagline has become the club’s unofficial trademark, uniting a state behind the JackJumpers.

But Roth remains humble, if not self-deprecating.

“There's plenty of coaches in Australia that are way better than me,” he continued.

“(I’m) just lucky enough to be this big fat guy … that ended up falling in love with our team and just been lucky.

“You know, timing is everything in your life and I hit the jackpot when I got to Tasmania.”

Tasmania’s season came to an end with a 14-point loss against Melbourne in the Play-In Qualifier on Thursday night.