Former Great Britain basketball player Joe Hart has stepped into a new chapter of his career as the head coach of the Essex Rebels men's team. Hart, 31, sees this opportunity as a "perfect match" and is eager to bring his experience and passion to the role.

Hart joined the National League Basketball Division One club last year after stints with Plymouth City Patriots and Newcastle Eagles. "When I heard about the opportunity, it consumed my thoughts night and day. It's always something I've wanted to do," Hart shared with BBC Essex Sport.

Hart's connection to the area, being from Southend, adds a personal touch to his new position. "I've got an affiliation for the area, and it kind of seemed like the stars are aligned," he said.

The Essex Rebels men's team has shown promise, winning promotion to Division One five years ago and finishing sixth in the 2024-25 season before being eliminated by Reading Rockets in the play-off quarter-finals. Hart is optimistic about the team's future. "I would love for us to win something, I'd love us to be competing for the league and playing in finals," he expressed.

Hart's coaching philosophy emphasizes doing things the right way. "Whether that happens or not leads back to my philosophy of if we're doing things the right way, I'll be content if we don't end up with everyone celebrating at the end of the season, but hopefully, it is a by-product."

Before taking on this role, Hart had already gained coaching experience. During his time at Plymouth, he served as an assistant coach for the men's team and coached their university programme. "In my last season, we set up an academy so I was coaching 16 to 18 year olds as well on a daily basis," Hart recalled.

Now, Hart is excited to oversee the Essex Rebels programme, which includes a mix of professional players and those still developing. "There's a good balance of guys who are professional and guys still early in their development, which is a nice blend," he noted.

Hart's journey from player to coach is a testament to his dedication to the sport. As he embarks on this new role, the basketball community will be watching closely to see how he leads the Essex Rebels to new achievements.