Essex Rebels sign Josh Perkins as Men’s Head Coach
The Essex Rebels have appointed talented and long-serving Manchester Magic coach Joshua Perkins as new head coach of the British Championship Basketball team.
Josh Perkins joins the Rebels after establishing himself as a highly respected coach withing Manchester Magic’s programme, where he has spent the last five years progressing through the club’s coaching pathway.
Perkins journey with Magic began with the academy, first working as an assistant coach for the U16s before stepping up as the U18 head coach in the following season.
Alongside developing and strengthening his coaching style through the academy, Perkins became heavily involved in player development, helping many players represent Great Britain on an international stage.
Following his success with the academy, Perkins stepped up to senior level as Assistant Coach for Magic’s National Basketball League, Division One side during the 2022/23 season. Perkins remained as their assistant coach during their transition into Division Two, before being appointed head coach for the 2024/25 campaign.
Most recently, Perkins guided the first team through a pivotal period for the club, leading them back into the first division following the restructure of domestic basketball that saw the formation and introduction of the British Championship Basketball league.
Prior to his time with Manchester, Perkins began his coaching journey at Cardiff University working as the Head Coach of the Men’s Programme between the years 2016-2021. During his time with Cardiff, Perkins worked closely with player of varying abilities and backgrounds, gaining a reputation for his player-centre approach and commitment to individual development.
Alongside his coaching responsibilities, in January 2026, Perkins took on the role of Project Co-ordinator at Basketball England, working and managing different initiatives across the sport. Perkins’ work for Basketball England demonstrates his passion and commitment to strengthening basketball at every level, an asset that will be valued highly at the Rebels.
Upon joining the Rebels, Coach Perkins shared his excitement, ‘
Would like to start by acknowledging what a great job Jordan has done over the last few weeks with the group. Just from our initial conversations it’s obvious he’s on a strong path to becoming a great coach.
I have to thank Peter and the whole Manchester Magic & Mystics organisation for my time with them. It was a great journey of learning, growth and being accountable to high standards.
It’s an exciting time to be a Rebel! We have a talented and ambitious group. The hard work continues with our first goal to continue to get a little better each day.
