Guest Speaker: Scott Roth

By Alex Wilson

Scott Roth won the NBL Coach of the Year award in the 2021-22 season with the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Recently at the Tasmania Academy of Leadership and Sport, the students had the privilege of hearing from Scott Roth, Head Coach of the Tasmania JackJumpers. What made this session so powerful wasn't just Scott's success as a coach, but his honesty about the journey, the sacrifices, and the lessons learned along the way.

Scott spoke about how as a head coach, you usually inherit a team that is either good or bad, but the rare and most challenging opportunity is starting from scratch. Building something from nothing requires patience, realistic expectations, and discipline. If you expect to win immediately without laying the foundations, you set yourself up to fail. The process is the process and skipping steps is dangerous.

He shared insights into building the JackJumpers from the ground up and what it takes to sell Tasmania as a destination. Convincing players isn't the hardest part, it's convincing families. But once players arrive on the island, they don't want to leave. The JackJumpers are a family-first, inclusive club, where excuses are eliminated for players, but families are supported to the highest possible standard. Belonging matters.

Accountability and standards were a consistent theme. At the JackJumpers, there is no difference in expectations between imports and local players; how you train, how you show up, how you wear the uniform. Everything is earned. Scott said that coaches don't eliminate players; excuses eliminate players. Young players are searching for a moment to prove themselves, and those who stay accountable and work hard give themselves that chance.

Scott Roth alongside former CEO Christine Finnegan.

Scott was deeply honest about the personal cost of coaching. During COVID, he spent long periods away from his wife and daughter; at one point not seeing his wife for 14 months and his daughter for 18 months. Despite the team exceeding expectations on the court in their inaugural season, he was struggling mentally and emotionally. He spoke about being depressed, immune to winning, and ready to quit. He was just surviving each day to get to the next.

He shared a moment where he almost left Tasmania entirely, with a flight booked for the next morning; only to have a chance encounter in Launceston that changed his mind. Two weeks later, borders opened and his family could finally come into Tasmania. He stayed. Not because it was easy, but because he was raised to never quit.

Scott spoke openly about stress, mental health, and the importance of learning to switch off. He explained that walking out of the arena after a game means the game stays there; he doesn't sit up all night watching film anymore. Switching off is a learned skill, and without it, even success can become destructive.

Now in what he calls the fourth quarter of his life; Scott said his priorities have shifted. It's no longer about money or what car he drives; it's about family, friends, and the people you care about. What feels important when you're young can become clearer with time. One day, he said, you'll realise this if you haven't already.

His father taught him to find his passion and do it the right way. Be the Picasso of your passion. Being great is on the other side of hard. That philosophy is exactly how Scott Roth builds teams today; hiring people that he knows will do the right thing even when no one is watching.

Scott coaches with vulnerability and empathy. He cries in front of his players when he's proud of them. He sees things from their perspective. But he also believes in truth. He doesn't lie to players, avoids delaying tough conversations, and holds people accountable, because wearing the JackJumpers jersey is a privilege, not an entitlement.

His advice to aspiring coaches was clear: don't rush to be a head coach. Be patient. Learn. Fail. Persist. Skipping steps is dangerous and thinking you have it all figured out is even more so. The journey matters more than the destination.

Roth’s story was a reminder that true leadership is built on humility, standards, empathy, truth, and care for people, on and off the court.

Roth coached the JackJumpers to their first championship in franchise history.