[by Thomas Käckenmeister] - It is always difficult for teams to compete in the first division of a country, if the club ascended from the second league right before the season. Besides BG 74 Göttingen, the club of Science City Jena is trying to survive in the highest German division.

Survival is the slogan since the beginning of the season for Jena. The team only won twice in 19 games so far.

Even a bunch of experienced American players (e.g. former NBA player Mark Davis) could not change the situation.

After Jena's loss at Bonn last Saturday (88:79) the management decided to make a change. They replaced head coach Björn Harmsen by player Sean McCaw.

With 25 years of age Harmsen has been the youngest coach in the history of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).

He was the main reason for the ascent of Jena to the BBL last summer. Already last Thursday when Jena lost to Ludwigsburg in the German Cup (77:85), Harmsen didn't talk much to his players during timeouts.

Instead, his assistant Marcel Schröder talked to the team.

"It wasn't easy for us, but due to the situation we had to act. We've had the feeling that Björn couldn't reach the team anymore.", manager Steffen Hausdörfer said in the press release.

"He has done a lot for the basketball in Jena. His name will be connected forever with the ascent of Jena to the BBL."

McCaw will replace Harmsen as an interim coach immediately.

He held the first team meeting on Monday and is motivated to fulfill his job: "It is a challenging task for me."

The 34 year old played in 19 games this season for Jena, averaging 6.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

The third coaching change of the season (Yves DeFraigne replaced Joe Whelton (Trier), Tolga Öngören came in for Aaron McCarthy (Tübingen) could be the most interesting one.

Which influence will have a coach who wa spart of the team during the first half of the season? Let's see if Sean McCaw will have an answer.