Forde quits Taipans to explore roles overseas

• Adam Forde departs the Cairns Taipans and explore opportunities overseas
• He spent four seasons as the Cairns coach, taking them to the semi-finals in his second year
• Forde was named NBL Coach of the Year in 2023

Head coach Adam Forde will not return as Cairns Taipans in NBL26.

Forde, 43, is exploding opportunities overseas after four seasons with the Far North Queensland NBL club.

The Taipans announced his departure tonight. They said he "has several options overseas, which he is currently assessing and exploring."

Forde finished with a 47-66 record in 113 games in charge of the Taipans. His only winning season was 18-10 in NBL23.

Cairns revealed Forde would remain in a new remote role with the Taipans and would be involved in the search and selection of the club's next head coach.

President Troy Stone praised the Forde's contribution during the past four seasons.

"Adam is at the end of a second two-year contract with us and we recognise that he has a very small window to weigh up his options and offers. He’s been upfront and transparent about all of this for some time now, so there are no surprises," Stone said.

"We encourage him to do what’s best, and what’s great is we have all been part of this process and also considered what’s best for the future of the Club.

"I want to acknowledge that the past four years has had its challenges, both on and off the court, but Adam has weathered the storms with excellence, integrity and leadership.

"He’s a brilliant coach and a good friend to many of us. We’re grateful for his tenure at the Taipans and we are all excited for Adam and his young family to take on their next chapter, knowing they will always have a home here in Cairns."

Forde joined the Taipans in 2021 after one season as head coach at the Sydney Kings before taking Cairns to the semi-finals in his second season, where the team took eventual champions the Sydney Kings to three games.

He was named the Coach of the Year in 2023 and recently celebrated 100 games with the Taipans and 150 games as an NBL head coach.

Forde said he looked forward to broadening his basketball horizons.

"My family and I have experienced four wonderful years in Cairns," he said.

"The community has made us feel at home, and for that we’ll always be connected.

"The Taipans have given me such an amazing opportunity to coach this club, and from this experience I grew such a large appreciation of how much this team means to the people who work here, and the city that supports them.

"I hope you see I did my best to represent you as the proud passionate fanbase that you are.

"Some professional opportunities have arisen that are worth exploring. It is uncharted waters for me that I venture into now during these coming months, but I know these wouldn’t have eventuated without the platform the Taipans have provided to me."

The Taipans (8-21) finished last on the ladder this season but were ravaged by injuries.

Forde started his NBL career at the Perth Wildcats in 2011 as an unpaid video technician. He was then appointed development coach, before becoming a technical assistant in August 2013. He became a full-time assistant in 2015 and as part of Trevor Gleeson's coaching staff, Forde won four NBL championships in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Adam Forde's coaching career

• 2010: Rockingham Flames
• 2011: East Perth Eagles (assistant)
• 2011–2012: West Coast Waves (assistant)
• 2012–2015: East Perth Eagles
• 2013–2019: Perth Wildcats (assistant)
• 2019: East Perth Eagles
• 2019–2020: Sydney Kings (assistant)
• 2020–2021: Sydney Kings
• 2021: Hawke's Bay Hawks
• 2021–2025: Cairns Taipans

Accolades

• 4× NBL champion (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019)
• SBL champion (2014)
• NBL Coach of the Year (2023)