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THE most successful era in Perth Wildcats' long and prolonged history of NBL success, closes today with the news head coach Trevor Gleeson is stepping down to take up a coaching role in the NBA.

The two immediate names Brad Rosen and I thrashed about while recording this week's Brad&Boti podcast today were former Wildcats assistant and Sydney Kings championship winner Matt Nielsen, along with former Philadelphia 76ers, Sydney Kings and North Melbourne mentor Brett Brown, an NBL championship winner at the Giants.

Wildcats warrior, championship winner, Olympian and former club owner Andrew Vlahov definitively ruled himself out as a candidate.

Gleeson departs after eight seasons at the helm, 269 games and five championships, presiding over Perth's most prolific era of success. He has led the club to half of its unprecedented 10 championships.

JOB WELL DONE: Half of Perth's 10 titles have come under Trevor Gleeson's watch.

The Wildcats, minus injured triple-league MVP Bryce Cotton, still reached this year's Grand Final Series where they went down fighting 0-3 in the best-of-five championship to Melbourne United.

Beset by injuries to their key players, they actually won greater respect nationwide with the manner in which they battled out the championship.

Earlier in the season, and at full strength, Perth won the inaugural NBL Cup.

“It’s been an unbelievable eight-year journey, it exceeded my expectations on every level. It’s very much mixed emotions to be leaving players and coaches that I love, as well as the organisation and the staff. But I know it will be a happy chapter of my life when I look back on it. I’m ready for this next adventure,” he said in a Perth press release today.

Gleeson this year was named the NBL Coach of the Year. He chalked up 171 wins at the helm for a 64 per cent winning percentage.