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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Maurice Cheeks is ready for a new challenge, undaunted by the fact that the Detroit Pistons have been a revolving door for coaches lately. Cheeks is the franchises fourth coach in six seasons, so is he concerned about a job where so many others have failed? "If we thought like that, nobody would be coaching," Cheeks said. Cheeks was introduced Thursday, nearly two months after Lawrence Frank was fired. The coaching search took a while because the Pistons need this decision to work out. Detroit went 54-94 in two seasons under Frank amid sagging attendance. The previous two seasons under John Kuester werent any better. The Pistons havent made the playoffs since being swept in the first round in 2009 -- in Michael Currys only season at the helm. Cheeks is Detroits ninth coach since the 1999-2000 season. "We wanted to make sure we took our time and went through as many possible scenarios as weve come across," team president Joe Dumars said. "We feel like we got the right guy for what were trying to do." This is the third head coaching stop for Cheeks. He went 284-286 with the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers. Cheeks coaching tenure in Portland is perhaps best remembered for a heartwarming moment when he rushed to the rescue of a 13-year-old girl who forgot the words to the national anthem before a game. But hes never been past the first round of the playoffs. "Everything you go through is a learning experience," Cheeks said. "Im here to make my own way, put my own stamp on this team. It has nothing to do with Philadelphia or Portland." Detroit drafted Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond in the lottery the last three years, and the Pistons have the No. 8 pick this year. Theyve been able to build a nucleus of young players with potential, but Detroit has lacked a legitimate star who could lift the team into the post-season and help draw fans. This off-season is an important one for Dumars after the team cleared salary cap space by trading veterans Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince in the last year. "This team has a lot of young talent," Cheeks said. "You go across the board, and youve got players that just have to be honed." Jonas Jerebko, a 26-year-old forward whose playing time dipped last season, was at Thursdays news conference. "Hes going to demand respect, and thats something we need," Jerebko said. "I feel like hes a great fit for our young team." Jerebko said he was shooting around with a couple other players earlier Thursday when Cheeks tried to set the tone for the future. "I had a couple flip-flops on or something -- you know, messing around," Jerebko said. "He told us: When youre in there, youve got to put in work. ... Thats what you want as a player -- you want somebody to tell you what to do. I wont be wearing my flip-flops out there." Cheeks spent the past four seasons as an Oklahoma City Thunder assistant. The Chicago native was a four-time All-Star over 15 seasons in the NBA, helping the Sixers win a championship in 1983. Next season will mark the 10-year anniversary of Detroits championship in 2004. Since then, the team has parted ways with the stars from that team, and the Pistons also have a fairly new owner. Tom Gores took over the franchise two years ago. Hall of Famer Phil Jackson helped with Detroits coaching search as a consultant, but Dumars said there was "a 100 per cent consensus" to hire Cheeks. Dumars is the teams most obvious link to its more successful past, and he acknowledges that no matter how many changes the team makes, fans will take a wait-and-see approach until the Pistons start winning again. "I think people are always skeptical until you prove yourself," Dumars said. "Im not here to try and prove to people in the press conference that everything is perfect. What I am saying, though, is were not going to stop working until we get it right. 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The Newcastle Jets are keeping their heads up despite their relentless injury problems and a tough three-game A-League losing streak, midfielder Mateo Poljak says.Poljak is a strong contender to become Newcastles stand-in captain for at least the next few weeks after skipper Nigel Boogaard tore ankle ligaments in their 2-1 defeat to Melbourne City on Thursday.Its not yet clear how long Boogaard will be out for, but he was the player the Jets could least afford to lose following injuries to defenders Lachlan Jackson (ankle), Ben Kantarovski (knee) and Daniel Alessi (knee).Poljak, however, is staying positive, writing their injury curse off as bad luck and insisting the Jets are headed in the right direction.Its just unlucky. Fair enough if they were muscular injuries, youd think maybe somethings (gone) wrong, but its more impact and knocks, he told reporters on Tuesday.You cant really do much about it.It doesnt affect morale - obviously wed like to have more players, especially since the majority of them aare starting players and leaders as well, but what do you do?I think weve got pretty good depth this year, well cover them.ddddddddddddFormer Adelaide United and Sydney FC centre-back Iain Fyfe has been training with the Jets since Monday and is likely to sign an injury replacement contract to act as cover for Boogaard, which would alleviate some of coach Mark Jones defensive headaches.Fyfe, now 34, has been playing in the South Australian NPL with Campbelltown City since 2014.I think the recruitment of Fyfey is quite a good thing for us, hes been vocal in the last couple of days, Poljak said.We have a strong leadership group but unfortunately a (because) couple of injuries, theres less and less experienced players.It does come up to a few of us to lead that and help young players and ourselves.The Jets take on Central Coast in the F3 Derby on Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium. 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