Illawarra granted coach Rob Beveridge a leave pass for their round three match against the Wildcats to attend his son’s high school graduation.

Hawks general manager Kim Welch said it was a decision the club was happy to make. 

"Rob has spent a majority of the last 2 years away from his family helping rebuild the club. The least we could do is afford him the time to share in this important moment with his son,” he said.

Assistant coach Eric Cooks, who was at the helm of the Hawks for two and a half seasons from 2006-2009, took over in his absence in one of the toughest playing environments in Australia sport.

Welch said the Hawks were ‘very comfortable’ the experienced assistant could handle the role on the big evening. 

Beveridge will return to the bench when the Hawks meet the ladder-leading Sydney Kings away from home on Monday night.

With three and a half more seasons to go on his current contract, the experienced coach’s family are set to join him in Wollongong when the school year wraps up later this year.

Check online for the match report for Friday night’s game against the Perth Wildcats.