Coach loves it too much to retire

DOLPHINS women’s coach Garry Lovett may just own the shortest retirement in Gold Coast cricket history.

The much loved and admired mentor (pictured) announced he’d be stepping down from the Katherine Raymont Shield side at the end of the 2020 summer – only for the club to announce last week that the 51-year-old will fill the women’s director of coaching post for next season.

While cries of John Farnham have already been “thrown around”, Lovett said he was excited to return and help elevate the Dolphin’s legacy to a whole new level.

“It’s probably the shortest retirement,”

Lovett said.

“I was never going to walk away altogether and I was always going to play some sort of role but now it’s going to be pretty hands-on again.

“We did advertise for the role but didn’t really get anything back in return so I’ve taken the director of coaching role and get to structure a coaching team for the women’s program.

“The girls are all pretty happy I’ve taken on the role rather than walk away.”

Lovett doesn’t yet know when the upcoming summer of cricket will commence as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to halt community sport.

But the premiership-winning coach is currently in the depths of planning and is set to appoint head coaches, team managers and specialist coaches across first and second grade in the coming months.

It’s all part of Lovett’s grand plan to ensure sustained senior dominance while also nurturing future talent at the Dolphins and building depth across the club’s junior programs.

“At this stage with our program, we needed more coaches involved because it was getting too difficult having one bloke trying to do it all,” he said.

“Having a coaching structure will improve our girl’s ability and we’ll also be able to attract girls who want to travel either up or down who are looking for opportunities to play at a high level.

“Our focus in the next few years is to build up our junior program, build depth and create that pathway to the firstgrade team.

“The club is in really good hands and we did very well last year and we’re expecting the same this year.”