The Franklin Bulls would like to announce the signing of new Head Coach Sebastian Gleim, who will coach the team and manage the Bulls programs.

With the departure of Head-coach Daniel Sokolovsky the Franklin Bulls have been on a mission to bring in a head coach to take over and fill some pretty big shoes. Thankfully with Coach Dan’s support the Franklin Bulls have landed on a new leader to take the team into the next two seasons.

Head Coach Gleim comes with European head coaching experience having coached in the German pro system for almost 15 years. Most recently with the Crailsheim Merlins in the German BBL, finishing runners-up in the German League Cup and making a quarter final in the Fiba Eurocup in 2022. In the past year he was also brought in by German National Team Head Coach, Gordon Herbert as an assistant. The team defeated Serbia in the grand final to win the gold medal at the 2023 Fiba World Championships.

But it’s his development experience and history of working with junior players that attracted the Bulls. Coach Gleim has worked in the German national program having won 6 European Championships as an assistant.

“We loved Sebastian’s passion for developing players both at the junior level and the highest level. He’s helped players realise NBA and Euro league dreams, national representation and has worked building a grassroots organisation. He fits us perfectly and we are excited to have his experience to come in and develop our young players and our elite athletes.” says Bulls Co-Founder, Jamie Reddish

Bulls Co-Founder, Scott Kelso has been working with Coach Gleim for the past two weeks and is ecstatic to sign such a coaching talent and bring him and his family to New Zealand.

“This is an amazing chance for the Bulls and New Zealand Basketball to learn from such a talented coach. We get to learn what it’s like to coach on the biggest stage in the world. Our players and our coaches are going to get so much out of this experience. We can’t wait to have him here and have him here for the next two seasons."

For Coach Gleim this will be a chance to help grow as a coach and develop local players in Franklin.

"I have been coaching in Germany for over 20 years - teams, clubs, federations - and I have helped players develop and achieve their goals. This includes the World Cup 2023 as an extraordinary milestone. Now I am able to fulfil my next personal dream: I am very proud to work for the first time abroad and to continue growing as a coach."

Coach Gleim will travel to New Zealand early next year with his family and make Pukekohe home for the next two seasons.