With preparations for the 2023 season now well underway, we are finalising our Coaching staff at all levels of the Phoenix Phutures Programme. With the emphasis on stability and continuity we will see many of our Coaches return to continue their fine work in recent seasons.
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Terrell Burgess will enter his third season as Head Coach, in their previous two seasons Terrell helped the squad become a competitive team and gave them a solid foundation that many of them have now taken into the u16 contact team.
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Our U16 contact team is very much more of the same, Head Coach Karl Burgess will return for his sixth year at the helm.
The 2022 season coordinators are also returning, on the offensive side of the ball Andy Lillington returns for his fifth year as play caller for the Nix. A position he held for both Midlands Division championships.
On the defensive side of the ball Will Alliss returns hoping to repeat his success in leading his unit to be the fourth-best defense in the country last year, in his first season in the role.
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The U19s will head into the new year with some familiar faces, Head Coach Karl Burgess will be hoping to take the team back to the National Championship game in what will be his third season in the role.
Defensive Coordinator will once again be Taran Chatha who himself is a Phutures graduate and senior team defensive lineman. Last season he led his unit to second in the country in defensive rankings.
On the offensive side of the ball, Andy Sweeney takes on the offensive coordinator role replacing last years play caller Luke Fearn who has stepped into the senior team coaching staff. With over thirty years experience as player & coach and at all levels including Junior, Senior & University, Andy will bring a wealth of experience & knowledge to the role. He will undoubtedly continue the development of our young players and will play a huge part in the teams attempt to go one step further in 2023.
Finally Andy Lillington will return to oversee the Special Teams unit, this group had an exceptional 2022 season with many point-scoring plays throughout the season, including a game-tying, last-minute kick to take the playoff semi-final to overtime. With positional coach appointments still to be made, watch this space for further announcements.
All three teams will hold practices on December 11th & 18th.