Wildcats Welcome Gerard Martin to 2023/24 Coaching Staff

The Perth Wildcats are excited to welcome Gerard Martin as Assistant Coach for the upcoming season.

Born and raised in Manly, Martin attended the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra for his senior year and represented Australia in the FIBA U17 and U19 World Championships.

Martin went on to graduate from Grand Canyon University in 2019, playing five seasons with the GCU Antelopes in the NCAA system, before securing a coaching role at California Baptist University as Director of Player Development.

Martin said he’s excited to get the opportunity to be involved with the Wildcats and the NBL.

“I’m really excited to get back to Australia, the NBL is really taking off and basketball keeps growing back home and the league keeps getting better and better,” he said.

“To be joining the Wildcats, an organisation that’s been the best organisation in Australia for a long, long time, I’m just really excited to get there and work with John Rillie, all the staff and the players.

“I’ve known JR for a few years now, we’ve built a relationship since I was a player, and as I got into the coaching ranks, we stayed in contact and I really respect how he went about his business when he was recruiting me as a player, and now as a coach, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Perth Wildcats head coach John Rillie said Martin’s main focus will be on player development.

“Gerard has been cutting his coaching teeth in the USA at the college level after a successful college career at Grand Canyon University, where he played for NBA All Star Dan Majerle,” he said.

“He’s been working his way up the coaching ranks since his playing career ended in 2019.

“Gerard was a part of Australian junior pathways as a player, so he’s excited to return home, join the Wildcats organisation, and start his professional coaching career, with player development being his key responsibility in helping get the Wildcats back to a championship level.”

General Manager of Basketball Operations Danny Mills said Martin has developed a strong coaching foundation during his time in the USA.

“We are extremely excited to add Gerard to our coaching staff as we continue to innovate and improve our player development program here at Perth,” he said.

“Gerard’s playing career as a high-level Australian junior and college player at GCU, combined with his experience as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division one level have given him a strong foundation as a player development coach who can both work on the court with players as well as teach in the film room.

“In what is a strong strategic pathway we are developing with our minor league team in the NZNBL, the Otago Nuggets, Gerard will first bring his expertise there as an Assistant Coach alongside Brent Matehaere, before making his way over to Perth in late July to join the team for the beginning for training camp.”