Football Queensland (FQ) is pleased to announce the four nominees for the 2019 National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland Coach of the Year Award.
Grae Piddick, Warren Moon, Graham Ross and Ben Cahn have been nominated for the NPL Queensland Coach of the Year Award, which will be presented at the 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night next month.
Gold Coast Knights’ Grae Piddick led his team to Grand Final glory in 2019 after finishing the regular season in second. The Gold Coast side recorded 22 wins this year, four draws and only two losses in their first season in the NPL Queensland. Piddick’s Knights were one of the most impressive teams in defence in the 2019 competition, recording 14 clean sheets and conceding only 22 goals across 28 matches. Six of these 14 clean sheets came in a row in a standout run of form towards the end of the regular season. Gold Coast Knights also went on an undefeated run of 16 matches in their inaugural NPL Queensland season, with former Gold Coast City coach Piddick awarded the Coach of the Month honour twice in 2019.
Lions FC claimed their second consecutive NPL Queensland Premiership this year with Warren Moon at the helm. In an exceptional season, the Premiers won 24 matches and only recorded two losses and two draws. Moon’s Lions were in stunning form coming into the 2019 Finals Series following an 11-match winning streak and an undefeated run of 20 matches in the regular season. The Premiers were arguably the best team in both attack and defence in 2019, having scored the most and conceded the least number of goals at the conclusion of the regular season, earning Moon the Coach of the Month title on two occasions this year. Moon’s success as a coach in 2019 culminated in his appointment as Brisbane Roar Academy General Manager.
After a tough start to the 2019 season, Graham Ross turned Redlands United’s form around. Six of Redlands’ 11 wins this year came in a row between Round 22 and Round 27, with their impressive winning streak also seeing the side record upset victories against top six teams Peninsula Power and Gold Coast United. While Ross’ side remained on the cusp of the relegation zone early in the season, the turnaround in form saw Redlands United climb all the way up to seventh on the ladder after 28 rounds. Finishing the 2019 season in 10th, Ross was instrumental in guiding his side out of the relegation zone and cementing their spot in the NPL Queensland for next year.
Olympic FC’s Ben Cahn led his side to back-to-back NPL Queensland Grand Final appearances after a strong 2019 season. One of the competition’s best attacking sides this year, Olympic finished the regular season with the second-highest number of goals scored, just four goals behind Premiers Lions FC, and booked their spot in the 2019 Grand Final with a win against the Premiers. Cahn’s team recorded 18 wins in 2019, with their best run coming in the middle of the season as they went undefeated for 13 matches, winning eight consecutive games. Cahn also led Olympic through a successful FFA Cup campaign, with his side making it to the FFA Cup Round of 16 before bowing out against Hyundai A-League side Adelaide United.
READ: NPL Player of the Year nominees
READ: NPL Young Player of the Year nominees
How coaches are nominated
The Coach of the Year is awarded to the best First Team coach during the regular season. As per the 2019 Competition Regulations, votes are cast on a 3-2-1 basis by the Head Coach of each club following the conclusion of the regular season.
A Head Coach is ineligible to win the Coach of the Year if the Head Coach has been suspended as a result of being sent from the Field of Play during a match or as the result of a Disciplinary Committee Hearing.
The eligible Head Coach who receives the most votes for the regular season will be awarded the Coach of the Year Award.
The 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night will be held on Saturday, 2 November in the Grand Windsor Ballroom at the Pullman Hotel in Brisbane.
A variety of awards will be presented on the night, recognising the outstanding achievements of individuals and clubs at both community level and from FQ’s Premier competitions.
Buy tickets to the 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night here.
Find out more about the 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night.
