Fox sacked!

GARY Fox has been sensationally sacked as coach of the Dandenong Rangers.
After winning two WNBL championships, playing in three consecutive grand finals and appearing in four-straight finals series, the Dandenong Basketball Association (DBA) has decided not to reappoint Fox to the top job.
Mr Fox is also coach of the Australian women’s under-21 basketball side, the Sapphires, and an assistant coach of the Australian Opals.
A media release circulated by the DBA on Tuesday outlined the details of Fox’s dismissal.
It stated that “Gary Fox would not be reappointed as head coach of the Rangers” and that “Gary Fox respects the right of the DBA to appoint a head coach of its choice”.
But when contacted by the Star on the same day, Mr Fox was unaware his sacking had become public knowledge.
“What press release? I didn’t know there was one,” he said.
Dandenong Rangers marketing manager Lisa Lawler said the decision not to reappoint Gary Fox had been a mutual one.
“It was a mutual decision, Gary was involved in the whole process,” she said.
But Mr Fox strongly refuted that claim and was “amused” by Ms Lawler’s use of the word ‘mutual’.
“How could the decision possibly be mutual, I’m no longer the coach,” he said.
Mr Fox said after five years at the Stud Road club, he would let his record stand for itself.
“Three grand finals, two (WNBL) titles, four finals series and eight players in Australian squads,” he said.
“I would have hoped to be automatically reappointed, as a coach what else could I do?”
For the first time since Mr Fox joined the Rangers in 2002, the DBA advertised his coaching position as a part of a thorough end-of-season review.
“The review happens every season, but this was the first time I had to reapply for my job,” Mr Fox said.
The sacking has forced the Dandenong Rangers to extend the deadline for coaching applications until Friday.
Ms Lawler confirmed that “a few applications” for the head coach position had been received and more were expected before Friday’s deadline.
When asked why Mr Fox had been sacked, Ms Lawler declined to comment.
Fox said he would focus in the immediate future on the upcoming under-21 world championships, in Russia.
“That’s my sole focus at the moment, I’m looking forward to that,” he said.
Fox has had extensive experience in just about every level of the game.
He coached the NBL Adelaide 36ers between 1987 and 1989 and had a one-season stint with the Southern Melbourne Saints in 1993.
Fox’s NBL coaching career spawned 66 wins and 42 losses.
Fox’s former assistant and current head coach of Dandenong’s Big V championship women’s side, Michael Davies, said he had enjoyed working with Fox over the years.
“It was a great learning experience (working with Fox),” he said.
Davies ruled out applying for the now vacant coaching position.
“Coaching WNBL is something I might consider in the future, but not next season,” Davies said.