Stéphane Leite Named New Head Coach of Swiss Women’s National Team

Stéphane Leite has been named the new head coach of the Switzerland women’s national basketball team on a contract running through June 2030, Swiss Basketball announced on Friday, October 9.

Succession of François Gomez and the Long-Term Mandate

The 38-year-old French technician succeeds compatriot François Gomez, whose tenure concluded in September after guiding the Swiss selection to a historic qualification for the 2025 European Championship. Swiss Basketball signed Leite through June 2030 to establish structural stability and continuity for the national program.

Daniel Goethals, the secretary-general of Swiss Basketball and former coach of Antibes, outlined the federation’s decision-making process in the official announcement. His experience of the highest level but also his builder’s profile and his desire to understand our environment were decisive elements, Goethals stated, emphasizing Leite’s player-centric approach and commitment to collaborating closely with domestic clubs and coaches.

Leite Led Charnay to Promotion and EuroCup Qualification

Leite arrives in the international role on the heels of a successful tenure with French club Charnay (CBBS), which he joined in 2022 while the team competed in Ligue Féminine 2. He guided the club to the second-division French championship and promotion to the elite top tier in 2023, followed by a qualification for the women’s EuroCup in 2024. In February, Leite had extended his contract with Charnay through 2027 before accepting the Swiss national team post.

Before his time in Burgundy, the Clermont-Ferrand native established his coaching credentials at Landerneau Bretagne Basket, winning the LF2 title in 2018 and earning division coach of the year honors before taking the club into European competition. His resume also includes brief stints in the professional ranks with Lattes-Montpellier, coaching assignments with the senior women’s national team of Côte d’Ivoire during AfroBasket 2025, and professional development immersions with WNBA franchises including the Washington Mystics, San Antonio Silver Stars, and Chicago Sky.

Switzerland Begins EuroBasket 2029 Qualification in November

Leite will take charge officially during the upcoming FIBA window in November, as Switzerland opens its qualification campaign for the 2029 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket. The team has been drawn into Group A for the European pre-qualifications alongside Iceland, Ireland, and Azerbaijan.

The opening window features three fixtures for the Swiss side, highlighted by a home game against Ireland scheduled for November 17 in Fribourg. To execute the federation’s competitive and developmental goals, Leite will be supported by an initial coaching and operational staff featuring Greek assistant coach Eleni Kafentari and team manager Juan Leonel Hernandez Cardenas, with a fourth staff member set to be named later.

I will put all my energy, my commitment and my heart into this beautiful mission, with the ambition of contributing to the performance of the national team but also, at our scale, to the development of Swiss women’s basketball, Leite stated through the federation’s release.