Matthew
Years ago

Matt Nielsen appointed Wildcats assistant coach

Just got this in my email


Matt Nielsen appointed assistant coach

The Perth Wildcats has appointed former Australian Boomers Olympic captain Matt Nielsen as its lead assistant coach.

Nielsen is returning to Australia after a year with the San Antonia Spurs coaching staff, where he was most recently a part of the team's NBA Summer League Championship-winning campaign.

He’s thrilled to be heading home to join Trevor Gleeson at the helm of the Perth Wildcats.

"I’m really thankful for the opportunity, I’m excited," he said.

“What I did with the Spurs over the last 12 months gave me a taste and told me coaching is exactly what I want to do, and I’m excited to be here and get my hands dirty and get into it.

“I think I’ll be able to help the players with the experience I’ve had in my playing career. I still feel fresh enough to know what they’ll be going through during the ups and downs of a season. I think that will be one of my strengths.”

Nielsen is a proven leader and Champion, with one of the most decorated playing careers of any Australian basketballer.

The 37-year-old first represented Australia in 1998 and went on to play for the Boomers at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games - captaining the team in Beijing and London.

At club level, Nielsen spent eight years with the Sydney Kings where he was a two-time Championship player.

He also spent nine years in Europe, playing in in Russia, Spain, Greece and Lithuania, winning European Championships with Valencia and Khimky.

He began his coaching career with the Wildcats during their 2013/14 Championship-winning season, helping out Wildcats coaching staff as a specialist big man coach – working closely with Matt Knight and Tom Jervis.

After that he joined the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff in the NBA in a player development role.

Perth Wildcats head coach Trevor Gleeson is an assistant coach with the Australian Boomers, and is away from Perth for the FIBA Oceania Championships – meaning he’ll miss the first weeks of Wildcats pre-season practice.

He said it’s important to have a lead assistant coach he can trust while he’s away.

“With everything Matt achieved in his playing and coaching career so far, Matt has a lot of respect among the playing group, as well as the rest of our coaching staff,” said Gleeson.

“He’s worked with most of the players before in the 2013/14 season and I’m comfortable knowing the team is in very capable hands in my absence.

“He’s got a great basketball brain and I’m looking forward to working with him upon my return.”

The Perth Wildcats coaching staff is now complete.

Nielsen becomes Trevor Gleeson’s lead assistant coach, above assistant coaches Adam Forde and Jamie O’Loughlin.

Josh Cavanagh remains the team’s strength and conditioning coach with Brett Havercroft as team manager.

Pre-season training officially commences on Monday.

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alexkrad  
Years ago

I am sure this was common knowledge, I even thought I seen an article or photo of him working with Jervis in the off season.. good to have it confirmed though I guess

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Anonymous  
Years ago

why are the cats clearing out so much room in the chin cap? are they preparing to sign jay leno as game night emcee?

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Matthew  
Years ago

Alexkrad: I learned a long time ago, that things arnt common knowledge. There is always someone who had no idea.

I find it interesting that Gleeson like last year will miss the first round or so of the preseason. Then his assistant coach took over for a few weeks and Nielsen will do so again this time.

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Kobe24  
Years ago

Another mini triumph for the NBL, hated him as a player because he was so annoyingly good! Has some great connections, the more of these guys around the league the better!

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Kobe24  
Years ago

Another mini triumph for the NBL, hated him as a player because he was so annoyingly good! Has some great connections, the more of these guys around the league the better!

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Anonymous  
Years ago

All the other 23 Asst coaches will be pissed

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Wildcats appoint 2016-2017 head coach early.

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Anon  
Years ago

@Matthew
Gleeson signed a 3 year contract last year with Boomers so not sure what's interesting about him missing a couple weeks of pre-season. Wildcats have a stellar coaching line-up with Nielson.

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