Scott Ninnis sacked by the Adelaide 36ers, Vicki Valk sacked by Adelaide Lightning

Ninnis, who still has a year of his contract to run, this year took Adelaide to last place in the NBL for the first time in the club's storied history of four championships and 21 finals appearances in 29 years.

Valk, who came in as an interim coach in the 2007-08 WNBL season following the axing of Chris Lucas, took his team to the championship but just two years later has plumbed a new depth with her Lightning missing the playoffs for the only time in the club's 18-year, five-championship history.

The Lightning today will advertise their position nationally while the 36ers went on the front foot yesterday afternoon after meeting with Ninnis and releasing him early from his contract.

The 36ers last night were staying tight-lipped about a coaching "wish list" but it is believed to include the names of the NBL's most successful coach, China-based Brian Goorjian, and Australian Institute of Sport men's coach Marty Clarke.

All the usual suspects Ian Stacker, Brendan Joyce, Guy Molloy, Alan Black also are likely to come under consideration, not to mention several prominent coaches in the second-tier SEABL competition.

"The 36ers acknowledge Scott Ninnis' contribution to the history of the Adelaide 36ers in his roles as player, assistant coach and head coach," the club's statement yesterday said. "Scott has been involved with the club since 1985 which made the decision around positioning the club for the future a difficult one for all concerned.

"The Adelaide 36ers will now initiate the recruitment of a new coach and will be looking locally and overseas to find the best candidates for the job."

Last night Sixers chief executive Ben Fitzsimons was adding nothing further to the statement.

The 36ers went 15-15 in Ninnis' rookie 2008-09 season, scraping into the playoffs before being thrashed by New Zealand in a KO elimination final.

This year he brought in the import pairing of John Gilchrist and Cortez Groves, the latter a complete bust and arguably the worst import the 36ers have had who made it to the end of a season.

A great player in his prime, Groves was well past his use-by date and Gilchrist, ultimately cut down by a shocking year-ending knee injury, was an extremely talented player but one craving and needing better sideline direction. It never came.

Ninnis' coaching support team of Richard Hill and Liam Flynn also lacked NBL experience but were appointed by the head coach.

Adelaide's 10-18 win-loss record, seven-game losing skid to close the season and 12 matches lost from winning positions meant 36ers' management had to pull the trigger, especially with the club's off-court efforts bringing big crowds flocking to Brett Maher Court.

With the position not yet fulltime, Lightning coaching candidates are less obvious.

Valk had three seasons in the role, adding the finishing touches to the personnel Lucas gathered to claim the 2008 title, then dropping to fourth last year. Adelaide had the talent to repeat that but instead fell outside the top five.