“Starting to get excited”: Gleeson arrives in Adelaide

New Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Trevor Gleeson has landed in his new hometown, getting to know staff and training venues and progressing discussions around the club’s final import signing.

Gleeson was signed to a three-year contract last month after finishing up two seasons as Head Coach of the Chiba Jets in Japan’s B.League.

The five-time NBL Championship winning coach arrived in Adelaide this week for a short visit to tour facilities, meet club staff and find somewhere to live.

Speaking to local media at the State Basketball Centre in Wayville on Wednesday, Gleeson admitted the new role felt real now that he was in Adelaide.

“As soon as I flew in here, it was like, okay, I started to get excited,” he smiled.

“To meet the staff and have a look at the facilities over here, talking to the players, it's really exciting and I can't wait for it.

“Normally when I was here (as Perth coach), it's just flying fly out, so, besides the great wineries they have in SA (I don’t know much about the place), but, no, it's just good to get a bearing and meet everybody in the office.”

Given his championship pedigree and the success of the Sixers last season, expectations will be high for Gleeson.

With a mostly set roster that includes Bryce Cotton – who he knows very well from their time together at the Perth Wildcats - he is eager to get the group together for pre-season before he sets his own expectations.

“I really won't know until we get together, you know,” he explained.

“Obviously, I have a different philosophy on the game offensively and defensively.

“And I'm not going to lie, having Bryce here was a big incentive coming here. We've got a great relationship, and that's how we're going to use that with the personnel.

“I've talked to most of the guys and they're excited to move forward and when preseason comes around the end of July, we'll get after it.”

With nine of the eleven roster spots locked away and one Australian and one import to come, Gleeson was asked about what he thinks the side needs.

“We've got a shortlist (of imports) right now and going through what the team needs,” he said.

“That's the process that hopefully it'll be sooner than later. I'd be nice to get the team settled and get some plans in place

“I really don't know until I get on the court, but probably the drawback is I've been gone for five years from the NBL, so we have to see how the personnel matches together, the chemistry, the synergy within the group.

“I've seen from the outside but I really don't know. It’s like buying a new car, you don't really know until you get behind the steering wheel what you’ve got.”

Gleeson will return to Adelaide in late July after heading to the US for the NBA Summer League.