John Coffino says his winning group of players ‘mean the world’ to him.
The Cheshire Phoenix head coach, named BBL coach of the month for December, watched his side register their ninth successive win in the league with a home success over rivals Manchester Giants on Sunday.
With the club reeling from the acrimonious departure of Julius Hodge just days before and Joel Barkers’ trial period coming to an end, Coffino was once again forced to contend with a shallow rotation, naming only three on the bench.
But New Yorker Coffino says the way his side have responded to the challenge has left him amazed and proud, hailing their resilience as a unit.
“I told this group of players how amazing they are to me after the win,” said the former NBA D-League coach.
“They mean the world to me. The way that they have faced every single challenge this season has been phenomenal. They are stronger than I will ever be and I feel privileged to be working with such a brilliant group.
“This group has each other’s back. They come together to win and that is what is happening right now.”
Coffino, who was crowned BBL Coach of the Month for December, reserved special praise for veteran David Aliu for his pivotal role both on and off the court.
“I feel blessed that we have someone like David Aliu in our squad as he’s such a fantastic leader,” he said.
“When he talks, all the other players listen. He is so well respected by the guys here.
“It’s not just a case of he is a great leader off the court. He is a fantastic player who makes a huge contribution on it as well.”
The Nix have made nine changes to their roster this season, with some players departing to seek pastures new and some being waived due to failing to meet the required standards.
The Nix secured an almost-unheard-of feat in basketball back in October, claiming an 89-86 win at Glasgow Rocks with only a starting five at his disposal.
But Coffino knows that if the Nix are to continue their winning streak they are going to have to add to their roster and, with money available, is already targeting ‘one or two’ new faces to fill the void left by Hodge’s departure.
“We have to replace Julius and I’ve already contacted some possible guys,” he said.
“There is a process and it can take time but we’ll be looking to get someone in pretty soon.”
The Nix travel to Sheffield Sharks in the BBL on Friday (7.30pm).
