Southern Down’s best sport coach 2024: Meet the top three

Our sport mad region is home to many dedicated mentors in various codes, and after hundreds of votes we’ve found the best coaches in our region. Meet the winners of our poll here.

Some of the Southern Downs' best spork coaches nominees: (L-R:) Damien Lawler, Sam Williamson, Sarah Monk, Gavin Conroy, Ben Pepper (Photos: File)

From gymnastics to swimming, hockey to combat sports, and every type of football from league to union, the Southern Downs has always been a place mad about sport.

Some of the state’s most dedicated, caring and knowledgeable coaches reside in our region.

We asked you and you nominated your picks to be crowned the best in the Southern Downs, and after more than a dozen nominations and hundreds of votes, the winner can be revealed.

It’s a star studded lineup, with three coaches receiving an joint second place finish, all getting ten per cent of the vote each.

1. SAM WILLIAMSON - WARWICK COWBOYS

Cowboys Ressie coach Sam Williamson is our regions best coach (Photo: TRL)

Williamson, a gun coach with the Cowboys reserve grade side, was nominated a mammoth amount of times, with no surprise the hometown hero took out this years comp with 18 per cent of the vote.

The coach said he was shocked with the nomination, not realising “how much the boys in the team and at the club liked him”.

Williamson first joined the Cowboys in 2017, before making the move to coaching last year. He reckons it’s not a bad effort for only his second year coaching.

One of his many nominees on our callout post said Williamson “puts everything into his players and club and is a great bloke all round in and outside of the game”.

“Management and experimenting with the team is one of my favourite things about coaching, I just want to see the boys doing well and having fun, it’s what footy is all about,” Williamson said.

“Mateship with the club is so important, it’s not all about winning but having fun too. I’m learning every day and I think I’ve slipped in really well. I’ve learnt a lot from Col (Speed), we aim to just get a bit better every week.

“Passion and pride, and the rest covers itself. I put a lot of heart into the boys and we work hard to get the reward.”

With the Cowboys ressies sitting top of the table for the reserve grade ladder, Williamson says the results speak for themselves.

“It’s a privilege and an honour, it’s awesome to coach the boys and get around them, I think they’ll be pumped for me,” he said.

“I love giving the blokes an opportunity, I know A-grade is the top of the top league but we’re playing a lot of good footy. Our team is about mateship and we’re getting the boys out of their shell, with the younger fellas learning off the older fellas, it’s just about creating that mentorship and culture.”

2. SARAH MONK - WARWICK HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Warwick Hockey Association’s Sarah Monk coaches both at local school level, as well as being an assistant coach of a Queensland side.

Monk is “very supportive of the kids and willing to take the time to help them learn new skills,” her nominee, Karen Petersen said.

Coming in joint second place, Monk’s dedication and work has clearly paid off with a deserved silver win.

2. BEC AND NATHAN ROGERS - ATHLETICS

Bec and Nathan Rogers also came joint silver position, securing 10 per cent of the votes.

“While success can be measured by the medal tally, it’s more importantly the incredible relationships they build with athletes that garnishes the respect of the children involved,” nominee Donna-Maree Willett said when we called out for nominations.

“A coach who walks beside a developing athlete every step of the way, knowing when to push, when to encourage and when to nurture is a rare and golden find,” she said.

2. DAMIEN LAWLER - BOXING

Warwick’s favourite boxing coach came in joint second place. He’s known as a dedicated and hardworking coach that is passionate about his sport. Lawler previously took home 2021’s best sport coach poll.

Lawler is a “dedicated coach who puts the boxers first. Damo is creating a team of competitive boxers that the town should be proud of,” Kylie Box wrote.

“They train extremely hard and are being rewarded for their dedication with some well deserved wins in the ring. He gives tirelessly to the club both as a coach and a friend.”

3. COREY WREN - SOCCER

This dedicated soccer coach received seven per cent of the votes and a bronze finish in this years best sport coach.

“Corey is a knowledgeable, kind and committed coach who brings out the best in those on his team,” Sharon Young said.