Mike Wells to continue as coach of Adelaide 36ers in 2025-26

After a season headlined by character clashes and locker room discord, the Adelaide 36ers have made their call on whether the coach will be welcomed back next summer.

Mike Wells will stay on as Adelaide 36ers coach next season.

Following the 36ers’ postseason elimination at the hands of South East Melbourne on Sunday, Wells, who has a contract through 2026-27 with mutual outs at the end of each season, said he had “no idea at this point” if he would be back for a second campaign: “we’ll just see”.

But senior officials confirmed to Code Sports both club and coach had reached agreement and Wells was guaranteed to be back in the City of Churches and at the helm of the Sixers in NBL26.

Wells, after his side fell 85-75 to the Phoenix at John Cain Arena in Melbourne, spoke like he was locked into another year Down Under.

Mike Wells has ruled over a drama-filled season at the 36ers. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“We’ll just have to see what the personnel looks (like) next year,” Wells said.

“As a coach you’re going to change your system depending on personnel.

“We’ll have a few of these guys back but (Sixers basketball boss) Matt Weston buys the groceries and I’m supposed to cook it and we’ll figure out what that group looks like next year and try to put them in the best position to be successful.”

The 55-year-old has endured a torrid maiden NBL campaign, arriving as an assistant but quickly promoted to leading man when he was installed in place of Adelaide legend Scott Ninnis, who was sacked prior to the season.

“It’s been a hell of a learning experience and a journey and made my dreams come true, (36ers owner) Grant (Kelley), to be a head coach,” Wells said of his first look at the NBL.

Wells copped significant pushback from the 36ers’ old guard, who were incensed at the club’s treatment of Ninnis, a two-time championship player, and he has had to learn on the fly in his first head coaching role.

He quickly found out there was never a dull moment in Adelaide, caught on camera delivering a massive rant early in the season and dealing with a number of difficult situations, some out of his control, some of his own doing.

He’s had to navigate the fiery fan fracas at John Cain Arena earlier this season that put the spotlight on the Sixers and left him down his two best players in suspended imports Montrezl Harrell and Kendric Davis.

Adelaide 36ers head coach Mike Wells will return next season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images.

Locker room unrest had been a near-constant, with a simmering clash of strong personalities in Harrell, Davis, Dejan Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries – who publicly questioned the coach, leading to a crisis meeting amid concerns Wells was ‘over-coaching’.

They got through that, then a post-game blow-up with Davis after the Sixers had just held on for a win over Illawarra left the former NBA assistant apologetic but on shaky ground.

But the tide within the club’s officialdom had turned in recent weeks and, despite a rollercoaster of, at times very public, controversy, Wells found a way to help the Sixers sneak into sixth and win a road eliminator against arch rivals Sydney.

With the season now done, Wells will get another chance to improve on the club’s first visit to the postseason since 2018.

Originally published as Mike Wells to continue as coach of Adelaide 36ers in 2025-26