COLERAINE has reappointed its 2022 football and netball senior coaches for the upcoming 2023 season with Ryan McClure and Casey Pye taking the reins respectively one again.

The club was quick to lock in its senior coaches after such a successful 2022 season, as McClure guided the side to a third-place finish, while Pye saw her squad reach the finals.

McClure will look to build upon the foundation he and his coaching staff put in place last season, which was his first as senior coach.

“We have a very talented group of players who are also a young side (and) are aware of where we missed the mark last season and are keen to go the next step,” McClure said.

“Being a young side, we lacked a little experience at critical moments, but the boys and I have gained the knowledge we need to succeed.”

The Maroons are happy to recruit from outside the club just like every other club, but with a group of players who have just won the Under-17 flag for the last two winters, there are plenty of players coming through the Maroons’ program who are home grown.

“We want to build upon this core group of players from the Under-17s who are coming into the senior ranks which will add to our depth as they commit their future to the club,” McClure said.

“These players see there are opportunities within the club, and they are already asking the right questions about where we see them progressing.

The Maroons have appointed Bevan McIntosh as its Reserves coach and Adam Ward and Cody Deutscher as senior assistant coaches alongside McClure.

Pre-season training begins on 29 November with six sessions before Christmas, followed by a break over the holiday period before the squad returns in earnest the first week of February.

Pye re-signs as A grade coach

LAST season was the first season Pye had coached at senior level, and she learnt a lot from the experience which will make her an even better coach in 2023.

“I went into coaching junior teams right after I finished playing juniors and I learnt plenty from some really good coaches along the way,” Pye said.

“The squad members from last season have all indicated they will return for next year and I have been in discussion with players from outside the club about joining us, but there is no one I want to disclose yet.

“As a team, we need to spend more time in the preseason training on our connections for the transition onto the court and our fitness levels need to improve as a whole, so these are some of the things we will be working on once preseason begins.”