SOUTH Warrnambool is backing Nigel Kol to guide it up the ladder again, appointing the former premiership mentor as its coach for the next two seasons.
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Kol has committed to a second senior coaching stint at the Friendly Societies’ Park-based club — some three seasons after leading it to a Hampden league premiership.
The former Roosters player said he was excited to be back at the helm of a club he led to grand finals in 2010 and 2011.
He stepped aside after the Roosters’ 2011 flag to concentrate on his family.
Kol said the time was now right to reignite his passion for senior coaching.
He met with the Roosters’ leadership group on Sunday and spoke to the entire list last night.
“I am just excited to be back there in the role,” Kol said.
“I know there are a lot of ex-South people who are excited by it and hopefully we can repay the faith they have in me with some reasonable results next year.”
Kol used his three-year break to spend more time with his children, Laura and Noah, who play for the club.
He coached Noah at under 16 level this season. “I needed to spend time with my kids,” Kol said.
“As much as I love coaching, there is still a drive to go and watch your own have success in their chosen sports.
“It was a great three years to have a spell from it.
“My passion is back there and I am ready to go.”
Kol, who coached Warrnambool for two years prior to his first stint at South Warrnambool, believes the Roosters are well-placed to make an impact on the competition.
He praised outgoing coach Matthew Monk for his role this season and pointed to the strong nucleus of junior players who had tasted senior football.
“I believe we have a fantastic young list,” he said.
“Three under 16s played senior footy this year and probably 10 or 12 under 18s played senior footy.
“Matt’s done a lot off the ground as well in regards to where we sit in the community and our expectations.
“He will pass the baton over to me in a healthy position from a junior point-of-view. He was probably really unlucky with injury. We lost (Zacc) Struth and (Sam) Kelly early in the piece and Jock Blair didn’t play, so we pick up three recruits really at the start of the year.
“If we can pick up another couple, we should be in the mix.”
The real estate agent, who will call on Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney, a friend from his university days, for advice, said he felt well prepared to step back into senior coaching.
Kol said it was important to fine-tune coaching skills but his previous experience would hold him in good stead, too.
“I have got good contacts in AFL circles to be able to go back and resource, so that is always good because the game keeps evolving and we want to try and keep on top of that as well,” he said.
“I think I am a reasonably corporate citizen so I like to mentor kids in the right direction and I think I have a good eye for the game and its deficiencies, can see where our strengths and weaknesses lie and put something into place that can bring out the best in the team.”
South Warrnambool president Jock O’Connor said the Roosters were rapt to have a coach of Kol’s calibre back at the club.
O’Connor, who will remain as president for a third season, said Kol’s passion and football knowledge stood out.
“We went through a fairly exhaustive process and interviewed four guys and spoke to another 10,” he said.
“We had a criteria to go through and Nigel came out on top.
“He was a good coach when he coached us last time and hopefully he’s an even better coach now.
“It is a great appointment for us.
“He’s been a premiership coach and hopefully he’ll be our next premiership coach.”