CLUB captain Chez Marks has been appointed as stand-in coach of the Cheshire Jets following the sudden departure of James Hamilton.
The 32-year-old agreed to take up the post for tomorrow’s game at Plymouth Raiders to give the team some continuity following a series of hastily-called meetings between players and club.
Hamilton resigned from his position as head coach of the Jets following an incident in which, according to a club statement, he was alleged to have been involved in ‘a verbal altercation with another man at a junior basketball game last Saturday’.
The alleged confrontation apparently had no connection with the junior game itself.
Hamilton, who was in charge for just three games, was suspended as soon as word got back to the Jets’ owner Haydn Cook.
At a meeting with Cook on Monday, Hamilton tendered his resignation which was accepted, ending his coaching and playing role at the club.
Marks paid tribute to Michigan man Hamilton, calling him the ‘dad’ of the team, as he pledged to pick up where his former boss and teammate left off.
“I’ve spoken with the players and I’ve spoken with assistant coach Matt Lloyd and Shawn Myers and we agreed that we wanted to continue what James was doing with the team,” said Marks.
“We felt the personnel was good, that we were going in the right direction and we don’t want to change that. James was like the dad of the team and we will try to go on in the same way.”
Marks is new to coaching but has been given the chance to prove his worth. He will be supported by Shawn Myers and Matt Lloyd, who will take more match-day responsibility having assisted Hamilton in training.
In a statement the club said: “We are delighted to confirm that team captain Chez Marks will be stepping into the role as stand-in coach.
“The club also has huge respect for Matt Lloyd for taking on the challenge. It was a unanimous decision by management and the team and we have every confidence that the trio will bring home success to the Northgate.”
