Conner Henry and the Adelaide 36ers have agreed to a deal in principle to make him the team's new head coach, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN.
The American was most recently an assistant for the Orlando Magic, and has had stints with both the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings over the course of his coaching career.
Henry will replace Joey Wright, who mutually parted ways with the 36ers in February, before a series of bullying and abuse accusations were levied against him by the team's co-captain, Kevin White. White has since been released by the 36ers.
The 36ers chose not to comment, when approached by ESPN. The team was planning to announce Henry as their next head coach next Wednesday.
Sportsbet's Felix Von Hofe was first to report that Henry and the 36ers had agreed on a deal. The 36ers' primary target for their vacant head coaching position was Adam Caporn, but he declined an offer from the team, sources said; instead, choosing to remain at Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence in Canberra.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 36ers are in the early stages of preparing a contingency plan in case Henry is unable to travel to Australia, sources said. That plan would involve finding an Australian-based coach to oversee basketball activities in the interim.
Henry is set to take over a team that will bring in promising point guard Josh Giddey as a Next Star, while retaining the likes of Daniel Johnson, Brendan Teys, and Jack McVeigh.
As a player, Henry had a successful college career at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before spending time with four different teams in the NBA.