Trevor Gleeson named coach of 40th Anniversary Team

Five-time championship-winner Trevor Gleeson has been named head coach of the Perth Wildcats 40th Anniversary Team.
 
Gleeson coached the Wildcats over eight seasons from 2013 to 2021 for a club-record 269 games.
 
Six coaches have experienced championship success with the Perth Wildcats, but Gleeson is the only to win multiple titles with the club, making him the stand-alone choice for the position.

“It’s huge,” said Gleeson, who is now an assistant coach at the Toronto Raptors.

“To be involved in the 40th anniversary of the team is amazing. I’m so honoured and appreciate to be selected as the coach.

“I was a fan of the Wildcats when they were winning championships under Adrian Hurley. I used to watch them and the teams they had were unbelievable.”

Trevor Gleeson joined the Perth Wildcats in 2013 and claimed a title in his first season (2013/14) before becoming the first Wildcats coach to win multiple titles just two years later (2015/16).

In 2017, he became the first coach in Perth’s history to go back-to-back and, in 2019 and 2020, was able to repeat that incredible accomplishment.

To put Gleeson’s five championships with the Wildcats into perspective, no other team has won more than four titles in total.

He was named 2021 NBL Coach of the Year.

The Perth Wildcats are announcing the historic dream team as part of their 40th Anniversary celebrations.

The final team will announced in the coming days in the lead-up to this Sunday 6 February, which will be 40 years to the day since the Wildcats first ever game.

The 10-man team has been selected by an expert panel comprising of Australian basketball greats including players, coaches, broadcasters and administrators.