Australian Head Coach appointments

Touch Football Australia (TFA) has appointed new Head Coaches for Australian Opens teams, the Emus, for the new World Cup cycle.

Phil Gyemore has been appointed as the Head Coach for the Men’s Open team, Swain Rovelli for the Women’s Open and Dave Nolan for the Mixed Open.

Former Men’s Open Coach Tony Trad retired from international coaching after receiving his 100th cap at the 2019 Touch World Cup. TFA is pleased to announce that Phil Gyemore, who has been Assistant Coach to Tony Trad for the Men’s Open team since 2015, will take over the Head Coach position.

Working closely with Trad, and Gyemore’s head coaching experience of the highly successful Cowboys Men’s teams for the past five years, made him the ideal candidate for the role.

“When I received the phone call, the words that came to my mind were ‘big challenge’ and ‘big opportunity’; I’m really looking forward to it and the journey to come,” said Gyemore.

“I’m taking over from the best Men’s Coach in the world, Tony Trad. So of course, that will be a challenge but I’m very excited and I’m looking forward to applying some of my own philosophies,” he added.

“Phil takes over from arguably the most successful coach we have seen,” said TFA CEO Jamie O’Connor. “They’re big shoes to fill, but I’m really excited to see what Phil and the team under his leadership can do.”

Another new appointment was made, as former Mixed Open Coach Mick Lovett, who’s been in the national program since 2005, retired from this position that he’s held since 2012. Dave Nolan, who has been in the national program in both Youth and Open positions since 2011, was the successful candidate in this role.

For the past four years, Nolan was an assistant to Mick Lovett in the Mixed Open program.

“Mick Lovett stood down from the role after seven outstanding years with the team, and has handed over the baton,” said O’Connor.

“Dave is a quality leader and coach but most importantly a quality person who will build on an already strong culture and value set.”

“I’ve been honoured to coach within the Australian framework both in the Youth and Opens programs, to represent my country and also help the players be the best they can be,” said Nolan.

“So now to move into a position where I can not only influence but lead it is just an amazing honour considering the depth of talent in the coaching ranks in Australia.”

For the Women’s Open program, highly rated incumbent Head Coach Swain Rovelli will remain in the position, after a hugely successful cycle in which the team has remained undefeated in all competitions.

Speaking of his re-appointment, Rovelli said, “I’m honoured to be able to coach the Women’s Open team again.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to help bring the success the team has had over the last four years. I’m also looking forward to working with the players again and bringing some new players into the squad.”

O’Connor said Rovelli was the standout candidate for the role. “Swain has had tremendous success with this team over the past four years; the style of touch they are playing is so impressive and great for our game. I’m confident he can take them to another level again.”

These three coaches will lead our Australian Opens touch football teams to the next Touch World Cup, in 2023, as well as through Open Trans-Tasman test series in 2020 and 2022.

Photograph, from left to right: Phil Gyemore, Swain Rovelli, Dave Nolan.