John Longmire quits Swans, Dean Cox to replace him as senior coach

John Longmire is out as Sydney coach, ending his 15-year tenure in charge of the Swans. And, the 2024 grand finalists have moved quickly to lock in his replacement.

• Longmire: North heartbreak to Swans great

Outgoing Sydney coach John Longmire has not closed the door on his coaching career as he plans to re-energise in his new role after stepping down to make way for Dean Cox.

The 2012 flag-winning coach officially handed the reins over to Cox on Tuesday, after telling Swans CEO Tom Harley and chairman Andrew Pridham last week that he was ready to move on.

The departure became public on Tuesday morning before Longmire fronted an emotionally charged press conference in the afternoon.

Longmire will step in to a new role as executive director of club performance, a gig that will see him look at more strategic parts of the club outside of the boundary and report directly to Harley.

But his exit makes him instantly the most desirable coaching candidate in the AFL market and he chose not to draw a line through coaching.

A new era has officially begun in Sydney. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“I can only just comment on how I feel today,” he said on Tuesday.

“I need a rest. I need to regenerate myself into whatever I do in the future. My first thoughts are, what can I do here (at Sydney)? What can we do with this?”

The new club in Tasmania will almost certainly come calling should Longmire be available as it prepares to enter the AFL in 2028, while clubs like Adelaide (Matthew Nicks), Western Bulldogs (Luke Beveridge) and Fremantle (Justin Longmuir) enter 2025 with some uncertainty about the long-term future of their coaches.

When pressed about the chances of moving to Tasmania, Longmire said: “I’m not talking about Tassie Devils. Let’s just get through today.”

Longmire revealed he first started planning his exit with Harley and Pridham 18 months ago, with Cox earmarked to take over from the start, despite the club denying there was a succession plan in place.

Cox has signed a four-year deal as Longmire’s successor.

Longmire bowed out after 14 years in charge and 22 on the Swans coaching panel, first under Rodney Eade then Paul Roos.

The 333-game coach – a Swans record - felt halfway through this year that it might be his last as the Swans dominated much of the home-and-away season before being smashed in the grand final by Brisbane, but he was contracted until the end of next year.

His contract was built around the chance he would retire from the coaching box in 2024 or 2025.

“I always thought this would be my last contract at the Sydney Swans,” he said.

“I was thinking the end of next year, if I could get through to that point would be a good time to go.”

Longmire said the 60-point grand final thrashing – his second belting in a decider in three years and his fourth grand final loss overall – wasn’t the decisive factor in stepping down.

“All I know is that halfway through the year and even before that, I was talking to Tom and Andrew about it and I wasn’t quite sure,” he said.

“I felt I needed to rest and stop and regenerate and it is very hard to do that when you’re coaching.

“I may have made the decision not to coach if we would have won and maybe made that decision quicker.”

Cox was considered the clear frontrunner for the West Coast coaching gig that eventually went to Andrew McQualter, before the Eagles champion ruck knocked back a chance to apply.

The six-time All-Australian denied he knocked back West Coast because he was sure he was about to replace Longmire.

“There was nothing in place throughout that process, my decision was a family decision and with the possibility of hopefully coaching this great club one day,” he said.

LONGMIRE DROPS BOMBSHELL ON SWANS

John Longmire has quit as Sydney coach with Swans assistant Dean Cox set to take over the role for the 2025 season.

Longmire was expected to tell Swans players of his decision to end his 15-year coaching stint on Tuesday morning.

The 53-year-old coached 333 games, winning the premiership in 2012. He lost grand finals in 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2024.

The Swans released a statement on Tuesday morning saying a ‘major club announcement’ would take place at 1.30pm.

It had been widely speculated Cox and Longmire would form a succession plan at the Swans following Cox’s decision to decline West Coast’s coaching vacancy.

“I am extremely happy in Sydney, and I believe this is the best place for me and my family at the moment”, Cox said in July.

The Grand Final loss to Brisbane will be John Longmire’s last game as Sydney coach.

“My two girls are 8 and 11 and have made solid friendships at school, and my wife is running a new business which she is passionate about, so we feel staying in Sydney is the best option for us right now.

“It isn’t a point of discussion. Horse (John Longmire) and I have a great relationship, and we are both really clear on the roles we have,” Cox said.

“He’s been a great mentor for me and I’m extremely lucky to be learning off one of the best coaches in the competition. I’m more than happy to continue to be an assistant coach for however long that may be.

“I am aspirational about my coaching career, however I think right now this is the best place to continue my coaching journey.”

Cox has been touted as a future coach in waiting, with West Coast’s advances following Adam Simpson’s departure a clear indication the Swans coach was highly lauded.

Longmire said in July, following Cox declining the Eagles’ top job, that discussions about the Swans’ coaching future was not affected by rival interest in the team’s assistants.

“We don’t get really dictated to by what other clubs do or what’s going on in other clubs,” Longmire said in July.

“He (Cox) is a quality coach, he has been and continues to be a very important staff member for us.”

Cox has slowly taken more control over the workings of the club during the off-season, with Longmire a notable absence inside Sydney’s war room at the draft.

The assistant coach led proceedings during both nights of the draft and was central in the decision-making process.

Cox also visited the home of first-round draftee Jesse Dattoli after the Swans selected the small forward.

It had been widely speculated Cox and Longmire would form a succession plan at the Swans following Cox’s decision to decline West Coast’s coaching vacancy.

“I am extremely happy in Sydney, and I believe this is the best place for me and my family at the moment”, Cox said in July.

“My two girls are 8 and 11 and have made solid friendships at school, and my wife is running a new business which she is passionate about, so we feel staying in Sydney is the best option for us right now.

“It isn’t a point of discussion. Horse (John Longmire) and I have a great relationship, and we are both really clear on the roles we have,” Cox said.

“He’s been a great mentor for me and I’m extremely lucky to be learning off one of the best coaches in the competition. I’m more than happy to continue to be an assistant coach for however long that may be.

“I am aspirational about my coaching career, however I think right now this is the best place to continue my coaching journey.”

Cox has slowly taken more control over the workings of the club during the off-season, with Longmire a notable absence inside Sydney’s war room at the draft.

The assistant coach led proceedings during both nights of the draft and was central in the decision-making process.

Cox also visited the home of first-round draftee Jesse Dattoli after the Swans selected the small forward.

Brains trust ready to roll 👑 #Bloods#AFLDraftpic.twitter.com/ANwwzzqVSJ

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) November 20, 2024

Longmire suggested in a statement earlier today that he is looking forward to moving into a more administrative role where he can help with the strategic areas of the club’s growth. That includes supporting Cox as he takes over the role.

Cox confirmed he is excited to transition into the role and build on Longmire’s legacy.

“Just as John was the beneficiary of a transition into the role from Paul Roos, I am very pleased to have been mentored into this role by John,” Cox said.

“It is very much part of the Swans way, and I’m extremely excited for next year and beyond.

“I’m grateful to John for his support of me and for being a great coaching mentor. Having him remain at the club is fantastic as it will allow everyone right across the organisation to draw on his vast experience.

“It’s an honour to take the baton from John. I understand the enormous responsibility this role brings, and I’m looking forward to getting to work and continuing the success of this great club for our loyal supporters.”