Basketball On The Internet.

INITIAL reaction to Trevor Gleeson's appointment as coach for three years at Perth Wildcats from the NBL club's fan base was luke-warm today, which was something of a surprise.

Gleeson, or a long-shot such as Adam Caporn, long were touted as the main contenders for the gig so fans had time to get used to the idea.

Not sure why there was some level of vitriol and for a while, I must admit I thought it was just the idle ramblings of 36ers fans who no longer have Marty Clarke to vent about.

Gleeson led Townsville Crocodiles into five consecutive finals series and was Coach of the Year at the Crocs in his farewell season in 2010-11.

He led Melbourne Tigers in 2011-12 where a change in club ownership and rumours of player unrest saw his tenure cut short after one year.

But Gleeson has extensive coaching experience, leading five different teams in three different countries to playoff appearances.

He also was a player scout for the NBA's Portland Trailblazers and the first Aussie appointed to coach in the NBA D-League when it was still known as the Continental Basketball Association.

Ah, them there good olde days of the CBA.

"I am very excited and honored to be selected as the new head coach of the Perth Wildcats and am looking forward to building on the past and making this team the premier team in the NBL," he said.

"I'm looking forward to coaching a passionate and cohesive Wildcats team that plays hard, plays unselfish and plays together. They are qualities I demand of my playing group."

Gleeson succeeds Rob Beveridge who held the reins for four years, winning the 2009-10 NBL championship and reaching the grand final series in the past two seasons.

Beveridge made a huge success of his shift to Perth after working within the financial and resource constraints at West Sydney.

Gleeson, having also worked in a smaller market and program at Townsville, similarly is expected to flourish at Australia's leading NBL franchise.

"Trevor established himself as the key candidate for the position with his hard-working, honest nature and proven success as a coach," Wildcats CEO Nick Marvin said.

"I believe he has what it takes to guide this club to another level."

Gleeson first coached in the Victorian Basketball League before coaching stints in Korea and the US.

While spending last season on the NBL outer, he worked for multiple AFL clubs as a skills coach as well as running his own elite coaching education platform.

The Wildcats have retained the bulk of their main player rotation, though star import and 2011-12 league MVP Kevin Lisch will play in Italy.

Depending on the imports, many already are pencilling in the Wildcats for their third straight Grand Final appearance in 2013-14.

Though maybe not at Perth radio's Mix 94.5 which reported on its noon news broadcast that "Tom Gleeson" is the new Wildcats coach.

Sadly, the "Australian Fast Bowler" will not be in the Wildcats' driving seat which is a shame. Dennis Lillee would have made a fine assistant.