AARON Fearne is poised to complete a remarkable rise from development player to head coach when he assumes the mantle of on-court boss with the Taipans next season.

The Taipans announced last night they had appointed Fearne to the position subject to the club gaining admission to the "new NBL".

With Basketball Australia due to meet on Monday, the Taipans should know within a week whether they will be part of the new elite competition.

"I’m definitely very happy to have the opportunity but obviously we’ve got to get the team in the league first," Fearne said.

A development player with the Snakes in their inaugural season in the league in 1999-2000 and an assistant coach from 2001, Fearne will take the reins of the team next month
after returning from North America where he has been on a leave of absence from the Taipans to help guide Nathan Jawai in his rookie year in the NBA.

Fearne, who watched on from overseas as the Taipans were pushed to the brink of oblivion last year, said he was thankful to the community that rallied behind the team to "give this thing a chance to live on".

He also paid tribute to the three previous Taipans coaches with whom he worked – Rod Popp, Guy Molloy and Alan Black.

"I’m very thankful to all three of them," he said.

"Rod gave me an opportunity to come to Cairns and I learnt from him as a player, with Guy I had to prove myself again and then learnt from him as a player and coach and the same with Alan.

"All three have taught me a number of things from a playing and coaching perspective."

The 34-year-old will reunite with former assistant coaching partner Mark Beecroft, who last month turned down the head coach’s role in favour of becoming general manager.

The pair has an intimate knowledge of the Cairns basketball scene and is keen to increase the links to the grassroots and increase development work.

Beecroft said the Taipans were "thrilled" to have Fearne at the helm.

"I think he’s a great fit for the organisation and the direction the organisation would like to go," Beecroft said.

"He understands the Cairns Basketball system, what we’re trying to achieve and what it’s going to take to engage the community."

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