'Big game experience': 36ers outline coaching criteria

The Adelaide 36ers have outlined a clear vision of who they want as their next head coach, following the shock departure of Mike Wells.

After two years at the helm, Wells stepped down from his Head Coach role on Wednesday to remain in the United States to be closer to family.

During a press conference on Thursday, Sixers General Manager of Basketball Operations, Matt Weston explained his club had clear criteria in mind for its next coach.

"[We] do want someone that's coached, [or has] been a head coach, not an aspiring head coach," Weston said.

"I want a Head Coach that has significant experience and been in big games, because we're built to win right now.

"This is a very big decision in the organisation, and not one [we] take lightly.

"Having someone that's familiar with Australia is going to be very important.

"It's going to add value that they understand Australian sporting culture, and where our team is and how the NBL is played and officiated. I think that's going to be critical."

While the team from the City of Churches has already been linked to five-time NBL champion Trevor Gleeson, with ESPN's Olgun Uluc labelling him the "frontrunner", Weston reiterated that his club will go through a detailed process this month before appointing their next Head Coach.

"My phone's lit up like a Christmas tree right now because everyone's going, 'OK, I've got a coach. Do you want him?'," Weston said.

"In the next couple of weeks, we will look through the shortlist - it will be, no doubt, 150 people that will want the job, and we'll get that down to six or seven.

"It'll get to three, and then we'll get right down into what we want out of those three, and who's going to be best suited."

Whichever coach is appointed will have Bryce Cotton, Zylan Cheatham, Flynn Cameron, Isaac Humphries, Bul Kuol, Isaac White, and Ben Griscti on their roster.

As such, Weston said his team's goal of a championship remains the same.

"Because most of the guys are coming back, the aspirations haven't changed," he said.

"I think Bryce [Cotton] was pretty public saying the only way to get over Game 5 [of the Championship Series] is to go win one [championship], and then you can get over it.

"That hasn't changed for us."