Gerreyn Appointed Coach of West Coast Eagles State Amateur Team
26 May, 2011
CHRIS Gerreyn has been appointed head coach of the West Coast Eagles State Amateur U/23’s for the next four years, replacing Wayne Langbourne who has taken the role of Colts coach at the Perth Football Club.
Chris brings extensive experience to the role having played over 100 WAFL League games, being on the list of Hawthorn and Fremantle as well as having coaching experience in the WAFL, WAAFL and WA Country Football Leagues.
Gerreyn began his coaching career in 1999 when he was player-coach of the Kalgoorlie City Football Club, winning the premiership in his first season before coaching the Moora Warriors Football Club, the Stirling Amateur Football Club and the East Perth Colts.
His success at country level saw him selected as coach of the Central Midlands Coastal Football League for the 2002 Wesfarmers Country Football Championships, where he developed a squad that was able to win the championship.
After moving back to metropolitan WA he took the position of head coach at the Stirling Amateur Football Club in 2005, immediately setting his sights on developing a colts program.
He took the comparatively small club from B Grade back to the A Grade and helped instill a successful culture, earning recognition from the Subiaco Football Club and being awarded Community Coach of the Year in 2006.
In 2008 he was selected colts coach at East Perth where he participated in the selection process for the State 18’s side, liaised with AFL recruiting officers and attending high performance talent and coaching seminars.
Gerreyn was originally appointed senior assistant coach for 2011 with plans to take over as head coach in 2012 but with Wayne Langbourne accepting the role at Perth his experience and ability to develop players made him the ideal candidate to take over in 2011.
The departing Langbourne leaves the West Coast Eagles State Amateur U/23’s after seven successful seasons as head coach, including leading the WA team to a historic win over the Victorians in 2009 and narrowly missing out on the AAFC National Championship in 2010.
The WAAFL wishes both men good luck in their endeavors.
