Sydney Flames sign Renae Garlepp as Head Coach for the next two seasons

Renae Garlepp has been appointed the Sydney Flames’ full-time Head Coach for the next two seasons. 

The two-time WNBL Champion and 2008 Finals MVP has quickly risen into one of the country’s best coaches, proving herself as interim Head Coach this season to secure the long-term contract.

Garlepp has been a spectacular coach across the Australian basketball scene, winning silver in the most recent 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup and being named “Best Coach” of the tournament. 

Back home, she’s won two NBL1 East Coach of the Year awards, an NBL1 East Championship with the Norths Bears.

As an assistant coach with the Flames this season, Garlepp stepped up into the interim role in late November when Guy Molloy stepped down from the role, leading Sydney to multiple impressive wins over Canberra and Bendigo.

"Being from NSW and growing up in Wollongong, I always dreamt of playing for the Flames and was fortunate to do it at the end of my career and never in a million years thought I'd be here coaching them,” she told ESPN.

“To now be in this role is really exciting and I'm very grateful to the club for the opportunity.”

Hoops Capitals CEO, Mark Thompson, said Garlepp is everything they were looking for in reshaping the future of the program. 

“This is a statement of intent from us. We are investing in Renae because we believe she is the right leader to build something powerful and enduring at the Sydney Flames. 

“She is driven, she is uncompromising on standards, and she is deeply connected to the NSW basketball pathway. And this is why it is not a short-term appointment. We are backing Renae’s vision for the future of this Club.” 

Sydney’s last game of the season will be against the Perth Lynx on Saturday, from 7:00pm AEDT live and free on 9Now.

‍