MONCTON, N.B. — Joe Salerno will not be returning to the Moncton Magic bench this season.
The National Basketball League (NBL) of Canada’s longest serving and all-time winningest coach was recently informed he would not be offered a contract regardless of whether the 2020-21 season takes place.
“I would have liked nothing more than to return to the Magic for a fourth season and continue to build on what we had accomplished during my time here,” Salerno said on Twitter.
Salerno, who was raised in Barre, Vt., began coaching in the NBL during its first season of 2011-12 with the Summerside Storm, which later moved to Charlottetown and became the Island Storm. Salerno’s contract wasn’t renewed following the 2017 season and he joined the Magic for 2017-18.
He led the Magic to the 2019 league championship and had his team sitting atop the league standings with a 19-4 record when the 2020 season was halted by the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic. He was named the league’s coach of the year the past two seasons.
Salerno, who was also the Magic’s general manager of player operations, thanked the organization for the opportunity to coach in the Hub City, which his family now calls home, and its supportive fan base.
“The relationships and friendships we have made here will be lifelong,” he said on Twitter.
