Basketball Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeremy Synot as Head Coach of the Australian Gliders, the national women’s wheelchair basketball team.
Synot has led the Gliders as interim head coach since December and now steps into the role permanently after guiding the program through a key transition period.
Since stepping into the role, Synot has overseen the Gliders through the Osaka Cup in February and helped lay the foundations for the group’s next phase, with the team now building towards the IWBF World Championship Repechage in June.
Previously appointed Head Coach of the Australian Under-25 Devils in late 2025, Synot now moves into the Gliders role permanently, with a new Devils head coach to be appointed in due course.
For Synot, the opportunity to officially lead the Gliders is one he does not take lightly.
“I feel extremely lucky and privileged to be appointed to the job ongoing,” Synot said.
“I have learned a lot about the group since December and through the Osaka Cup Tour in February.
“I have learned that this team is made up of a remarkable group of athletes who are really hungry for success. And the work that has been done previously will contribute immensely to future success over the short and long term.”
While the Gliders continue to evolve, Synot believes there is already a strong foundation in place, with a number of athletes having built valuable international experience in the green and gold.
“Some of the strengths of the program centre on a group of athletes who have now played a significant number of games in the green and gold, so the exposure to international basketball has occurred,” he said.
“Furthermore, athletes in the institute programs have been working hard on rounding out their individual games with focus on skill development.
“Now a big piece moving forward is putting these skills together in a style of play that will allow us as a group to reap the rewards of on-court success.
While on-court success remains a priority, Synot said building the right culture within the group would be equally important.
“We certainly want a culture where we are accountable and transparent to and with each other, both athletes and staff,” he said.
“But also, a culture where we can be self-reflective and constructive in our feedback to drive high standards amongst the group.”
With the IWBF World Championship Repechage coming up in June, Synot said the immediate priority was helping the Gliders qualify for the World Championships, while also continuing to build depth across the roster.
“Obviously our goal is to win our way through to the World Championships at the Repechage in June,” he said.
“But beyond that, developing depth within our line ups so we have multiple options on court which will place us in a positive position late in tournaments.”
Basketball Australia High Performance Manager – Wheelchair Basketball Rod Siegel said Synot’s appointment was an important step for the future of the Gliders program.
“Jeremy brings a clear, values-led approach to leadership and has an exceptional ability to communicate with players, coaches and staff. He also has a strong understanding of the Australian high-performance sport system and what it takes to build world-class standards.
“His ability to align people, provide clarity and drive accountability will be critical as we continue to rebuild the Gliders program toward sustainable international competitiveness in LA28, Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”
Jason Smith, Basketball Australia’s Executive General Manager of High Performance said Synot was the right person to lead the Gliders into their next chapter.
“Jeremy has done a great job stepping into the Head Coach role over recent months during a key transition period, and we have full confidence in his ability to lead the Gliders moving forward,” Smith said.
“We also want to acknowledge and thank Craig Campbell for all that he contributed to the Gliders program and the strong foundations that he has put in place during his tenure as Head Coach.
“Jeremy has a clear vision for where he wants to take the program from here, and we are so excited about what lies ahead for the Gliders.”
