Darren Coleman
Brumbies Rugby has completed their restructure of the Brumbies Academy for 2009, including the appointment of former Northern Surburbs and Penrith coach Darren Coleman. Coleman, who started with the CA Brumbies last week, has been coaching overseas for the past five years and, in a coaching career that has so far spanned 12 years, also headed the NSW Waratahs Academy to help prepare the likes of George Smith, David Lyons and Matt Dunning for international rugby. Brumby Jack caught up with Coleman, who takes over the reigns from Owen Finegan, during his first month at Brumbies Rugby.
Brumby Jack: You’ve had some experience in running an Academy program after overseeing the NSW Waratahs Academy in 1998 and 1999. What’s the key to running a successful Academy?
Darren Coleman: The key to a successful Academy is working in well with the clubs, and that the club and the Super 14 franchise work well together in the best interests of the individual athlete.
BJ: The Brumbies Academy has undergone a restructure for the 2009 season. Can you give us an overview on how it will operate next season?
DC: Basically we’ve tried to standardize things and provide opportunities. Too many young players these days are after ‘what can this organisation do for me?’, so we’ve implemented a three-tier system. Tier One is for those players who will be ready for Super 14 in the next 12 to 24 months; Tier 2 – who are again on standardized contracts, so we’re not debating backwards and forwards with player managers – are players who we think will be ready in 24 to 36 months; and Tier Three are the younger guys, who further down the track may have the opportunity to make it but there is still a fair bit of work to do. Those contracts at the pointy end – Tier One and Tier Two – are very much in line with the succession planning of where the Brumbies will be needing players in the next period of time.
BJ: You had been coaching overseas for a number of years in Italy and Canada prior to accepting this role. What brought about your return to Australia?
DC: I was ready to come back and work in Australia. I’ve been overseas for five years and I had a good association with Andy Friend during my time with the Waratahs – he’s a guy I knew I’d enjoy working under and the Brumbies is world-renowned as a place that develops players and coaches. Those factors – wanting to work under a good boss and in a great organisation – were the main reasons I ended up here in Canberra.
BJ: With coaches like Laurie Fisher having graduated from Brumbies Academy Head Coach to CA Brumbies Head Coach, do you have any aspirations to coach an Investec Super 14 side?
DC: Everyone wants to coach at the highest level they can reach but I’m not looking at anything like that in the short-term. My goal is to do a good job in the role I’m in here and develop myself as a coach and we’ll see where it leads.
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