Tom Garlepp

Thomas Michael Alexander Garlepp (born 20 April 1986) is an Australian basketball coach and former player. He played two years of college basketball in the United States for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos before playing 11 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 2007 and 2018. He played for the Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers, Gold Coast Blaze and Sydney Kings. He also had an extensive state league career, most notably playing for and coaching with the Norths Bears of the Waratah League / NBL1 East.

Garlepp served as head coach of the Australia women's national under-17 basketball team, the Sapphires, at the 2024 FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup after helping them win gold at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Women's Asian Championship.

Early life Garlepp was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in Perth, Western Australia, He also played Australian rules football as a youth. In 2003, he played 11 games for the Perry Lakes Hawks,

In 2004, Garlepp moved to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and play for the AIS men's team in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). In 25 games, he averaged 3.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He led the AIS in blocked shots with 39 and set an AIS record with 10 blocked shots in one game.

Garlepp returned to the Perry Lakes Hawks in 2005 and continued with the team in 2006 and 2007.

In May 2007, Garlepp transferred to the Westmont Warriors of the NCAA Division II.

Professional NBL Garlepp began his National Basketball League (NBL) career with the Perth Wildcats in the 2007–08 season. In 29 games, he averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He returned to the Wildcats for the 2008–09 NBL season but appeared in just six games. Injury limited him to just four games. In 2010–11, he averaged 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 28 games. In 2011–12, he averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 31 games. In 2012–13, he averaged 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 30 games. and averaged 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 28 games.

In March 2014, Garlepp re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal. He surpassed the 200-game mark during the season.

In April 2016, Garlepp re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal.

After six seasons with Sydney, Garlepp finished his NBL career with 263 games, 163 of them with the Kings.

Australian state leagues and NZNBL Garlepp was originally named on the Southern Districts Spartans roster for the 2008 SEABL season, but instead re-joined the Perry Lakes Hawks for the 2008 State Basketball League season. In 20 games, he averaged 25 points per game. He missed the end of the season due to injury. He was named to the SBL All Star Second Team.

With the Hawks in the 2009 State Basketball League season, Garlepp helped the team reach the SBL Grand Final, where they were defeated 85–77 by the Lakeside Lightning. He scored a team-high 17 points in the grand final. In 29 games, he averaged 26.38 points, 11.03 rebounds and 4.31 assists per game.

Garlepp joined the Sandringham Sabres for the 2010 SEABL season, where he averaged 16.4 points and nine rebounds per game.

Garlepp joined the Brisbane Capitals of the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) for the 2011 season. In 27 games, he averaged 18.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Garlepp re-joined the Braves for the 2013 SEABL season, where he averaged 19.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25 games. In eight games, he averaged 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.8 blocks per game. In 18 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He suffered an ankle injury in May that sidelined him for three weeks. He was later absent from the team in July due to the birth of his son. In 15 games, he averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

In 2018, Garlepp played four games for the Norths Bears in the Waratah League. and helped them win the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup behind his tournament MVP performance.

Coaching career State leagues In 2017, while playing for the Hobart Chargers, Garlepp also served as an assistant coach with the Norths Bears men's team. He was part of the Bears' Waratah League championship when the team won 92–78 in the grand final over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

In 2018, Garlepp served as head coach of the Norths Bears women's team. and guided the Bears to the Waratah League women's championship

In 2020, Garlepp won his second Waratah League championship with the Bears women

In October 2024, Garlepp was appointed head coach of the Norths Bears men's team in the NBL1 East for the 2025 NBL1 season. He was reappointed as head coach of the Bears men for the 2026 season. He guided the Bears to the NBL1 East Grand Final, where they won the NBL1 East men championship with a 76–64 victory over the Sutherland Sharks.

WNBL In July 2019, Garlepp joined the Sydney Uni Flames of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) as an assistant coach for the 2019–20 season.

Garlepp served as an assistant coach for the Sydney Flames during the 2025–26 WNBL season, with his wife Renae Garlepp serving as head coach.

National team In May 2023, Garlepp was appointed head coach of the Australia women's national under-17 basketball team, the Sapphires. He guided the team to the gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Women's Asian Championship in Jordan. He coached the Sapphires at the 2024 FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Mexico.

Garlepp coached the Sapphires at the 2026 FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Czechia, where they reached the bronze medal game.

Other In 2021, Garlepp coached the University of Sydney men's team to a minor premiership in the University Basketball League (UBL). In 2022, he guided the team to the UBL championship.

In 2025, Garlepp coached the Basketball New South Wales under 20 women's state team for the seventh straight year.

Personal life Garlepp is the son of Michael and Robyn Garlepp. His younger brother, Josh, is also a former basketball player and worked as a reporter with Fox Sports.

In May 2014, Garlepp married fellow basketball player, Renae Camino, in Wollongong. The couple have two children.

Garlepp obtained a Master of Coaching and Education degree at the University of Sydney. He worked at Saint Ignatius' College Riverview as the basketball program coordinator and first V coach before becoming the senior program operations director at the Northern Suburbs Basketball Association in May 2023.