Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells steps down weeks after signing extension, citing family priorities

Key facts

• Mike Wells resigned as Adelaide 36ers head coach a month after losing the NBL championship series to the Sydney Kings in Game 5 overtime.
• Wells had signed a contract extension through NBL28 just days before stepping down.
• He posted a 58% win rate (41–30) over two seasons, including 27 wins in NBL26 – the club's best regular season since 1986.
• Wells replaced Scott Ninnis two years ago; Ninnis had replaced CJ Bruton after a poor season.
• The 36ers reached the NBL finals for the first time in seven years under Wells in NBL25.
• Bryce Cotton won his sixth MVP, Flynn Cameron earned Most Improved, and Cotton and Zylan Cheatham made All-NBL First and Second Teams in NBL26.
• Executive chair Grant Kelley said the club fully supports Wells' decision to prioritise family.

A sudden departure after a near-title run

Mike Wells has resigned as head coach of the Adelaide 36ers, just weeks after signing a two-year contract extension and a month after his team lost the NBL championship series in a dramatic Game 5 overtime defeat to the Sydney Kings. The 36ers came within seconds of winning the title in regulation before falling in the extra period. Wells leaves with a 58 per cent win rate, having guided Adelaide to back-to-back finals appearances for the first time in seven years. In NBL26, the team posted 27 wins from 41 games – its best regular-season record since the championship-winning 'Invincibles' of 1986 – and also reached the final of the inaugural Ignite Cup. The decision, announced via a club statement, came after what the 36ers described as deep reflection on family priorities. Wells had recently returned to his home in Utah, where he spent time with his sons and his aging father.

Family ties pull Wells back to Utah

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built in Adelaide over the past two seasons,” Wells said in the statement. “The players, staff and fans have made my family and me welcome. Adelaide is a special place, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the 36ers.” But he added: “Having spent some time back home in Utah with my sons, seeing my dad who is getting older, realising I have been away from family for much of the past three decades, I know the decision to step down to be with my family is right.” Wells, an American, had been away from his family for long stretches during his coaching career. He said he would continue to follow the club closely from afar.

A coaching carousel in Adelaide

Wells arrived ahead of NBL25 as an assistant before being elevated to head coach, replacing Scott Ninnis, who was sacked one season into a two-year contract. Ninnis himself had replaced CJ Bruton, who was also dismissed after a poor on-court performance. The 36ers have now cycled through three head coaches in as many seasons, though Wells brought stability and success. Under his leadership, the team transformed from a finals absentee into a genuine title contender. Executive chair Grant Kelley said the club was disappointed to lose Wells but fully supported his decision. “While we would have loved Mike to continue leading the program, we completely understand and respect his decision to prioritise his family,” Kelley said.

Individual accolades and a rebuilt culture

Wells’ tenure saw significant individual achievements. Bryce Cotton secured his sixth NBL MVP award, Flynn Cameron earned Most Improved Player honours, and both Cotton and Zylan Cheatham were named to the All-NBL First and Second Teams, respectively. “NBL26 was an outstanding season for our group, both collectively and individually,” Wells said. “To see Bryce Cotton secure his sixth MVP, Flynn Cameron earn Most Improved honours, and both Bryce and Zylan Cheatham recognised in the All-NBL First and Second Teams speaks volumes about the talent and commitment within this program.” The 36ers’ rise under Wells was built on a fast-paced, high-scoring style that made them one of the league's most entertaining teams. Their 41 wins from 71 games under Wells represent a marked improvement from the previous regime.

What comes next for the 36ers

The 36ers are now searching for a new head coach, with the NBL27 season several months away. The club will need to find a candidate who can maintain the momentum Wells built while navigating the uncertainty of a coaching change. Wells’ departure also raises questions about the futures of key players like Cotton and Cheatham, who may have been drawn to Adelaide partly because of Wells’ system. The club’s executive chair, Grant Kelley, will lead the search for a replacement. For Wells, the immediate future lies in Utah with his family. He leaves with a heavy heart but a strong legacy in Adelaide, having restored the 36ers as a championship-calibre team.

A legacy of revival and what it means

Wells’ two-year stint in Adelaide will be remembered as a period of revival. He took over a team that had missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons and turned it into a finals fixture and a near-champion. His 58 per cent win rate is among the best in club history. Yet his decision to walk away just after signing an extension underscores the personal sacrifices that coaching at the highest level demands. For the 36ers, the challenge now is to build on the foundation Wells laid without the man who laid it. The club’s next head coach will inherit a talented roster and a fanbase hungry for a title. Whether they can replicate Wells’ success – or even improve upon it – remains an open question.

The bottom line

• Mike Wells resigned as Adelaide 36ers head coach citing family reasons, just weeks after signing a two-year extension.
• He leaves with a 58% win rate (41–30) and led the team to its best regular season since 1986.
• The 36ers lost the NBL championship series to the Sydney Kings in a decisive Game 5 overtime a month before his departure.
• Wells replaced Scott Ninnis, who was sacked; Ninnis had replaced CJ Bruton, continuing a pattern of coaching turnover.
• The club must now find a new head coach to sustain the success Wells built.