MATT Parsons has been the SBL Coach of the Year the past two seasons and led the Cockburn Cougars to the championship in 2016, but he's now in charge of the Perry Lakes Hawks as he looks to continue to progress his coaching career that he wants to make a career from.

Parsons took over as coach of the Cougars ahead of the 2015 season with little expected from his team. They had lost plenty of talent and experience, and the majority of the 2012 title winning line-up, and they were expected for a lowly finish.

Nobody told Parsons that and he built up a playing group and a style that was able to achieve beyond what anyone expected. They ended up finishing fourth that season and even though they lost to Rockingham in the quarter finals, the building blocks were in place to do something special.

Marcus Goode then joined Najee Lane as an import last year with veterans Dan Thomas and Rhett Della on board as well. The end result was the Cougars claiming the minor premiership then beating the Hawks, Geraldton Buccaneers and Joondalup Wolves on the way to the 2016 championship.

Parsons couldn’t have been more proud of what his players helped him achieve at Cockburn but his vision didn’t connect overly closely to that of the club's hierarchy so without a job to go to, he decided to leave on the ultimate high.

With the Perry Lakes job becoming available with Charles Nix ending up taking over at the South West Slammers, Parsons was quickly signed and now is excited by the new role.

"It was really tough to leave Cockburn, it really was. There were some really good people at the club and that's the one thing I'm going to miss the most because as a family we made some great friendships down there," Parsons said.

"But Cockburn and I envisioned a different direction moving forward and for me it was about a challenge and to put myself in a situation where I felt I could develop a lot better as a coach in terms of opportunities and facilities.

"I think Perry Lakes offers that but to be fair I didn’t know this job was available at the time of leaving Cockburn, I had to make the decision of leaping in the deep end and I was prepared to not having a coaching job.

"It was a big call but I had to do it for the right reasons and I'm really happy that it's worked out for me and for Perry Lakes to open the doors for me. It's a fantastic club, it's professionally run with great people involved and I'm really happy to be here."

Parsons is proud of what he achieved in two years as coach of the Cougars. While happy to accept the recognition of the two Coach of the Year awards, he knows he couldn’t have taken the team to the level he did without the full buy in of the playing group.

"I spoke to Rhett Della and he told me jokingly that players make coaches, but the reality is that's true. They are the ones that have to buy into my philosophies and who have to take my instructions and turn it into reality," he said.

"Once the whistle goes and the ball gets tossed in the air, it's the hard work of the players that determines what happens. Those Cockburn players believed in themselves, they believed in what I was selling and it resulted in a special two years.

"In 2015 we didn’t have a hope of doing anything but then to have expectations on us in 2016 after a good 2015 is harder than flying under the radar.

"We had to back in our knowledge and the work we were doing off-court and at the end of the day it resulted in a championship. It was an amazing accomplishment and those boys should be tremendously proud."

Now that he is in charge of Perry Lakes, Parsons' sole focus is on bringing success back to the proud club but he does have one eye on the first clash against Cockburn.

"Everywhere you go in your career and most players in this league touch base with a couple of clubs throughout their careers, and coaches see a couple of different destinations, every time you go back to a club you've been involved with it's something special," Parsons said.

"Going back to Cockburn after what we've achieved, we get to go there in Round 3 and there will be the banner celebrations so that excites me.

"I'm really proud of that achievement so I'm looking forward to being able to go, but at the same time we will be there as Perry Lakes to do a job and to knock them off on their happy day. That's how it is."

While the Cougars had some stars leading the way last year, the key to their success was how deep of a squad they had and that they had role players right down the bench who could come on and contribute in games, but also help build that culture.

Two of those players that Parson had plenty of time for at Cockburn were Travis Hayto and Luke Wilson. That's a big reason why he has brought them with him to Perry Lakes.

"We talk about Travis Hayto who is an absolute locker room guy. He ticks every box from a teammates' perspective by training hard and leaving everything out on the floor. He's not the most talented but he has one of the biggest hearts in the league," he said.

"We've brought Luke Wilson across too and again he is somebody who is an amazing teammate. He does all the little things and he has the ability to turn a bad day into a good day, so those two with the influence they bring and understanding of my system are positive additions.

"I can't wait to see them thrive with more responsibility at a new club and the support they can provide me in push across my style."

Another man to join Parsons in the move from Cockburn to Perry Lakes is his assistant coach Conrad Francis who he thinks the world of.

"I do like Conrad. We have become pretty good mates over the course of a couple of years, and the beautiful thing about a partnership with coach and assistant coach is that we are very open with each other," Parsons said.

"We have evolved in all aspects and if there was an assistant coach of the year award then Conrad would have won it the last two years.

"He takes on any challenge to try and fix things, and for mine I would be lost without him and I'm fortunate to also take him away with the State 20s program as well. We are singing the song and hopefully these players can respond to that as well."

Parsons is only 35 years of age and basketball has always been his passion, and he would love the chance if it ever eventuated to make it his full-time job.

His immediate focus is on succeeding at Perry Lakes but longer term if that could help him achieve his dream, then he certainly won't complain.

"It would be a phenomenal opportunity if I was able to make a career out of coaching. So far basketball has always been a hobby for me and something I've enjoyed, and with that enjoyment you can commit and give up time away from work and family," he said.

"To be frank, I'd love that opportunity and I'm not sure where it might come from at the moment, but I'm hoping that by doing all the right things and continuing to throw my best foot forward that some doors might open."

Giving Parsons hope of what can happen is looking at fellow SBL championship winning coaches Andy Stewart and Adam Forde move into full-time WNBL and NBL coaching roles so he knows it's possible if he keeps delivering and impressing.

"Everyone has a different situation and I'm not sure about the personal situations of those guys, but having supportive family members mean you can go out and do those things," Parsons said.

"Me and my family have prepared ourselves for that opportunity if it ever comes. I'll keep knocking on the door and hopefully somebody will answer one day and I'll get the opportunity. I take pride in our preparation and if that chance came, that wouldn’t change."

Photo by Mick Cronin