Jacob Jackomas and his latest NBL chapter

Jackomas has been assistant to one of Australia’s most successful coaches. Now, it's his turn to step into the head coaching spotlight.

Jacob Jackomas has been one of the most recognisable faces in NBL coaching since the early 2000s. But right up until the NBL 2022/2023 season, many fans might not have been able to put a name to that familiar face beside Australian basketball coaching legend Brian Goorjian.

Illawarra Hawks Basketball @illawarrahawks

14th Illawarra Hawks Coach | 1st Interim. Big things. @jacobjackomas

Unlike many coaches before him, Jackomas did not break into the NBL scene with a bang. It was a COVID-19 incident in the NBL 2021/2022 season that gave him a first opportunity to take the reins for a road game. That Thursday afternoon, it was reported that head coach Goorjian had tested positive for the coronavirus, and Jackomas was thus named the 14th ever head coach in Hawks history.

“When they found out that he wasn't going to be there, they really stepped it up and really decided to move this season on just for this one game, unfortunately, without him," Jackomas shared postgame, as he downplayed his own role. “All I needed to do was just sort of jump around on the sideline and give them their schemes.”

In bringing his trademark energy and enthusiasm, Jackomas guided the Hawks to an upset win over Melbourne United and foreshadowed his future selection as the head of the nest.