Central Coast Mariners have appointed Jake Stephenson as the assistant coach of the club’s Liberty A-League side, ahead of their return to the competition next season.
Stephenson – who is the coach of NPLW side Northern Tigers – is the first member of head coach Emily Husband’s coaching staff for the next season.
The Englishman helped the Tigers to the New South Wales NPLW side Grand Final in his first season charge.
He has also worked as a Lead Coach Developer, delivering Football Australia’s advanced coaching courses and works as a full-time Coach Development Manager at Northern Suburbs Football Association.
“I am really excited to be involved with such a historic club like the Central Coast Mariners in the team’s inaugural season in the A-League Women’s competition,” Stephenson said.
“I am particularly delighted to be supporting Emily, the entire coaching staff, and the players as we look forward to the upcoming season ahead. The Mariners have a strong community feel to the club and I have already felt that in the first couple of opportunities I have had to meet everyone.”
“We will collectively do our upmost to represent the values of the club on the pitch and it is a great opportunity for us all to try and stamp our mark in the league and be as competitive as possible.”
Husband is familiar with Stephenson’s coaching abilities, having come up against on a myriad of occasions for the best part of three years in the NPL and is looking forward to now working alongside him.
“After coaching against Jake in the NPL NSW competition for the last three years, I have seen Jake’s demeanour on the sideline and the information that he gives his players. It gives a good insight into his knowledge of the game,” Husband said.
“After I sat down with Jake and had a few conversations with him it was clear that he shared similar passions and thoughts to me around the game. He is in football to help develop players and that was one of the biggest things that I looked for.”
“I am really excited to have him on board. Getting somebody like Jake with the experience that he has and his knowledge of women’s football in Australia, we have a really strong foundational base to build the squad.”
The Mariners will become the competition’s 12th team next season, returning to the A-League Women 14 years after they disbanded in 2009.
