WARRNAMBOOL export Trevor Gleeson hopes to help the Perth Wildcats “build something better than good”.
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The two-time NBL championship head coach has re-signed for a further three years, ensuring he will be at the club until at least the 2018-19 season.
Gleeson wants to carry on the culture of success at the club which he has led for the past three seasons.
“Hopefully we can keep building on what we’ve got here, (which is) a culture of excellence and high performance,” he said.
“The challenge is for a championship every year.”
When he first stepped up to the role in 2013, Gleeson knew he was where he wanted to be: leading a club that had a sustained period of excellence, having played in 27 consecutive play-offs.
Fast forward three years, and the former Warrnambool Seahawks coach has contributed to the legend, extending the streak to 30-straight finals appearances and taking the Wildcats’ championship total to seven.
Gleeson expects the Wildcats to retain the majority of its core group of players heading into next season, and has been busy starting the recruiting drive to add to the group.
“We’re still recruiting, especially with Brisbane coming in (to the NBL next season),” he said.
“We want to keep our core guys and hopefully bring a bit more youth and quickness in.”
In season 2013-14, the Wildcats made an immediate statement under Gleeson, going through as the standout team on their way to claiming the championship.
“We were the best team in it,” Gleeson said.
“We had great recruiting with James Ennis, won the pre-season, finished first, won the premiership.”
His second season at the helm had some adversity on the injury front, with captain Damian Martin sustaining a broken jaw.
But last season, the Wildcats bounced back in a big way, finishing second on the ladder and defeating Illawarra Hawks in the semi-finals series to book their spot in the best-of-three grand final series against New Zealand, going on to win the championship.
Gleeson said it was the strength of the relationships at the Perth-based club that held the team in such good stead.
“Our relationships with each other are very open and honest,” he said.
“We’re selfless. We’re prepared to put the team first.”
Gleeson said he was grateful for the support he still receives from back home, with many people sending messages via phone and Facebook in the past few days to congratulate him.
