6
Feb
It's a Cole World
'Accidental head coach' has fire to lead Sydney Flames
It's a Cole World with Bec Cole | Season 2 Episode 12: with Renae Garlepp
Podcasts
New Flames coach Renae Garlepp says she “started coaching completely by accident”.
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The WNBL's newest head coach Renae Garlepp has revealed she started "coaching completely by accident" but her rise from assistant coach to Guy Molloy at the Sydney Flames, head coach of the silver medal Australian Gems at the 2025 FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup has been meteoric and earned.
"I think I’ve just stumbled my way here, if I’m honest," Garlepp told Bec Cole on the latest episode of It's a Cole World, Australia's No1 women's basketball podcast.
"My mentality with playing was always, 'I want to achieve this goal and reach these heights', and I was quite driven as you know, that creates a lot of anxiety.
"I started coaching completely by accident and I think I’ve got here because I’ve just said yes any time anyone’s asked me to do something.
"That’s pretty much how I got here. I’ve enjoyed that with coaching I have not looked forward. I sit with whatever team I’m coaching, even a school team, and think, 'How can we make this team better?'
"I’ve consciously done that because I remember what it felt like on the playing side."
Cole reminded women's basketball fans: "For those who don’t know and live under a rock, you were also one of the greatest players.
"WNBL Rookie of the Year, two-time WNBL champion, WNBL Grand Final MVP, All Star Five at the Under 19 Worlds, Australian Opal, and drafted to the WNBA. Do you think having played at that level helps as a coach?"
"Since I’ve started coaching, my main focus has always been how we can get every single player in front of us to thrive.
"Peeling back what that looks like, a lot of feedback is generally negative, and what you need to work on.
"We want them to get better at that, but it’s also like, you’ve got some really good strengths here. How can we use that, and how can we embrace that?
"Then with everyone’s individual strengths, how can we bring that collectively together?"
Watch the Full Interview with Sydney Flames head coach Renae Garlepp in the Video Player above.
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