MATTHEW Nicks has been accepted into the AFL’s new Level 4 Senior Coach Program as one of nine assistants across the league selected as part of the first course intake.
The program is designed to equip AFL assistant coaches with the skills needed to run a football program as a senior coach.
Nicks recently filled the senior coaching role in Port Adelaide’s NAB Challenge games against West Coast and Richmond.
Returning to his regular job of managing the Power’s defence this weekend, and for the rest of the season, Nicks will incorporate the Level Four program into his professional development schedule during the year.
“Most coaches want to study and further their education, it’s a pretty cut throat business and success goes a long way,” Nicks told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"It’s so hard to [study] because we work incredible hours, so this is an opportunity for me to now study at that next level to get myself into a position to improve my coaching and go to the next level.”
As acting senior coach for two games, Nicks gained unparalleled experience by taking charge of not only the Power’s on-field guidance, but the management of the club’s coaching panel.
The learning experience will be invaluable to helping him improve as the Power’s defensive coach during 2015.
“It was a good learning experience more than anything,” Nicks says of his time in charge.
“I sat down with Ken and had a good chat about it [the role], it probably wasn’t that far different from what we do week-to-week from last year, in that we have a really strong coaching group.
“Obviously the coordinating of that and overseeing making sure we’re making the right decisions was the different aspect, but as far as the pressure goes, I didn’t feel that nervous pre-game; no doubt the pressure would’ve been ten-fold when you go in and are playing for points.”
Nicks was selected to undertake the program following an a application, peer and senior coach review and interview process.
Eight other league assistants were selected, including John Barker (Carlton), Brendon Bolton (Hawthorn), Blake Caracella (Geelong Cats), Stuart Dew (Sydney Swans), Simon Goodwin (Melbourne), Robert Harvey (Collingwood), Adam Kingsley (St Kilda) and Simon Lloyd (Fremantle).
Former AFL coach Peter Schwab, 2006 West Coast premiership coach John Worsfold, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, Australian hockey coach Ric Charlesworth and club chief executives Trevor Nisbett (West Coast), Greg Swann (Brisbane Lions), Peter Jackson (Melbourne) and Brian Cook (Geelong Cats) were on the selection panel.
