Breakers head coach Andrej Lemanis gives the Taranaki under-15 boys teams some advice while in the region.

Sport Taranaki's Steve McKean prematurely introduced New Zealand Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis as the new Boomers boss at a lunch held for the region's coaches yesterday.

With the Australian men's basketball head coach position set to be announced this morning, Lemanis remained tight-lipped yesterday about whether he had landed the top job.

However, when asked how much he would miss the Breakers outfit should he be successful, he was close to tears.

"It's been a very special programme to be involved with and if I do leave, I will certainly leave with a heavy heart," he told the Taranaki Daily News.

"It's been a huge part of my life, but one of the things we have done with the club is build a solid base. We've proven over the last little period of time that the club is bigger than one person."

Should he leave, Lemanis had no doubt the Breakers would carry on and be as successful as recent times indicated.

Lemanis coached the Breakers to just the second NBL title threepeat in the league's history this year, beating the Perth Wildcats in a grand final sweep. That triumph, along with a four-year stint as the Boomers' assistant coach, should hold him in good stead for the head coaching job.

Assistant coach Dean Vickerman has been touted as a replacement coach for the Breakers should Lemanis depart, with a new assistant to be appointed.

Following yesterday's lunch, both men took the Taranaki under-15 boys' basketball team for a coaching session at New Plymouth Boys' High School.

The session attracted many of the region's basketball coaches and covered basic skills, ball handling, and a look at the defensive pattern used by the Breakers.

Under-15 coach Michelle Hill said it was an invaluable experience to have Lemanis and Vickerman give her team advice.

"It's awesome because he's been going over everything I've been trying to tell them lately," she said.

"They're a bit nervous because of the whole aura of them being the Breakers' coaches, but it's a great opportunity for them."

More than 50 coaches from all codes attended yesterday's lunch, which Sport Taranaki relationship manager McKean said was outstanding.

"They talked about their success and the threepeat - which not many people have achieved. He also talked a lot about the culture, the systems they have in place with the owners, the board and the support they get to do their job."

It was the first time Lemanis had taken a coaching clinic in Taranaki.

Hannah Fleming, Taranaki Daily News

Photo: Robert Charles