The Nuggets will part ways with their most successful coach.
Matehaere was off contract but he was keen to return for "a shot at redemption" in 2025.
The Nuggets missed the playoffs last season but Matehaere led the club to their first National Basketball League title in 2022.
They reached the semifinals in 2023 and, under his leadership, they also won the 2020 NBL Showdown.
It is an impressive track record, but he was informed this week the Nuggets wanted to move in a different direction.
The decision came as a shock to Matehaere.
He had spoken of his passion for the Nuggets and his desire to add to the two banners he helped secure.
But he will not get the opportunity now, and was still processing the decision when the Otago Daily Times phoned for comment.
"I guess to be fired with the record that I have and, you know, what I guess we’ve been able to achieve, is the hardest part," Matehaere said.
"I’m not sure what the reasoning is behind it. If it was performance-based or if it’s just changing direction, I’m not sure.
"Obviously, as I said, I was keen to make amends and keen to continue in the role.
"So, you know, potentially I have to reassess where I’m at and see what’s next."
Matehaere, who was a foundation player when the Nuggets entered the league in 1990, said he had put his heart and soul into the club.
He also played a role in helping get Otago back in the NBL.
Basketball Otago faced financial ruin in 2014 and severed ties with the Nuggets, who dropped out of the league.
Attempts to revive the team went up a gear in 2019 and the goal was to get back into the league in 2021.
Matehaere helped do some of the legwork and the Nuggets actually made their return in 2020 for the NBL Showdown, a revamped league with a draft held during the height of Covid.
"To be part of those first five years was really special. There were some special moments and some special relationships were formed at that time.
"And that’s going to be the challenge because it’s always about the people and those connections you have with each other."
One of those tight relationships was with Otago Nuggets general manager Angela Ruske, who had to deliver the bad news.
She was influential in keeping the Nuggets’ flame alive during the five seasons the club was out of the league.
Nuggets owners Sports Entertainment Network New Zealand "made the decision that we’re going to look for a new head coach for the 2025 season", Ruske said.
"Obviously, we’re incredibly grateful for the passion and commitment that Brent has put in throughout his tenure with us, both on and off the court, and the success that he’s had.
"They’ve just taken this as an opportunity to look for another option in terms of a head coach role, primarily because it might bring a different type of player into Dunedin.
"Obviously, I have a lot of respect for Brent. It was a very difficult conversation to have.
"I mean, we started this process together. You know, if it wasn’t for Brent, I don’t think we would have had the Nuggets back then, either.
"Obviously, it’s a big loss not having a local coach and one who’s so passionate about the team. So that’s going to present challenges, for sure."
Ruske said now SENZ had made the decision to appoint a new coach, they could begin the search.
"It is something that they have to move fairly quickly with."
SENZ’s Australian parent company, Sports Entertainment Group, sold 90% of its 95% share in the Perth Wildcats to technology entrepreneur Mark Arena in July, so it is unclear whether the player-coach pipeline that existed between the Wildcats and Nuggets is still in place.
Brent Matehaere
The facts:
- Otago Nuggets player 1990-92
- Otago Gold Rush coach 2010-13 (national title 2011)
- Junior Tall Ferns coaching staff 2012-16
- Led Tall Ferns to China 2016
- Appointed Nuggets coach 2019
- Led Nuggets to victory in NBL Showdown 2020
- Won first full NBL title 2022
- Reached semifinals of NBL 2023
- Overall record with the Nuggets: won 53, lost 41 (56.4%); only Carl Dickel has a better winning percentage (60.8%) with the Nuggets
