Kearney conforms around family dinner table
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has gone meat free and switched to an almost vegan diet.
The 46-year-old, who signed a contract extension at the club last week, taking him through until the end of the 2022 season, has joined his family in cutting out meat and dairy products from his diet.
League is not a sport associated with healthy diets, with sausage sizzles and meat pies being regular fixtures at grounds around the country.
However, Kearney says he now living a lifestyle where meat and dairy are off the menu.
‘‘I wouldn’t say I’m a vegan, I’m in and out, I do have a bit of fish every now and then,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘I have a daughter that’s been a vegan for five years and my wife is pretty much a vegan. I’d be doing vegans an injustice if you said I was a vegan!’’
While Kearney may not claim to be a fully paid up member of the Vegan Society or be looking to purchase a ‘Meat is Murder’ T-shirt, he says he’s enjoying his diet.
‘‘I’ve got two females in the house that don’t eat meat or dairy and sometimes it’s easier just to roll along. ‘‘But I don’t mind it though.’’ Kearney says he hasn’t felt any direct benefits from his diet and that he’d need to make other changes to his lifestyle for that to happen.
‘‘I’d probably have to go to bed a bit earlier and get up later to feel fresher!,’’ he laughed.
‘‘But I’ve got to say I don’t mind it. I haven’t had a steak since I can’t remember.
‘‘My wife cooked me one and I could only eat half of it, so I’m like that now.’’
Meanwhile, Kearney’s next four years at the Warriors will not only define the history of the club, but also his legacy as a coach. He showed last year by getting the team into the finals for the first time since 2011, that the Warriors are now heading in the right direction.
He could make it six years as coach of the Warriors, and with that comes stability, but it can also result in staleness.
Bill Belichick, has been the coach of the New England Patriots in the NFL for 19 years and Sir Alex Ferguson was with Manchester United for 27 years.
Both coaches were successful by being able to stay relevant and continuing to inspire their players.
But for every Belichick, there’s a Jose Mourinho or Eddie Jones, who can do a good job for a few years, but then the players get stale with them, the team stops improving and it all turns sour.
Kearney needs to make sure he’s another Belichick and not a Mourinho.
‘‘Part of the coaching role is having the same principles, but reinventing the way you put them across,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘But look at the playing roster from when I got here, to where we are now, it looks pretty different.
‘‘That will continue to evolve and it’s about adding and it’s a continuous process in terms of getting the right fit for the individuals.
‘‘Part of it is with having the same principles as a coach is having a different voice that’s putting it across,’’ he added.
‘‘I try to be the one that’s not always yelling and giving the messages, that’s why we’ve got different dynamics in the coaching group we have, in Todd Payten, Stacey Jones, Tony Iro and Nathan Cayless is looking after the ISP and Greg Boulous, with the Flegg team.
‘‘We’re all a bit different and that certainly helps.’’