The Brisbane Lions have appointed Peter Schwab to the newly-created role of Head of Coaching & Development.
Schwab, currently the AFL’s Director of Coaching, will oversee the management of coaching staff in the Club’s football department, while providing support to Senior Coach, Justin Leppitsch.
He will officially start his new role in November.
Lions General Manager – Football Operations, Dean Warren, said Schwab’s experience and proven ability in managing high performance teams would be an enormous asset for both Leppitsch and the Club.
“We are absolutely delighted to secure Peter’s service,” Warren said.
“Peter has a proven track record in elite sport and his past experiences as a senior coach and most recently as the AFL Director of Coaching will prove invaluable.
“I was extremely impressed by Peter during the Senior Coach selection process and clearly the Club made an impact on him.
“It’s a great result for the Brisbane Lions.”
Schwab was the Senior Coach at Hawthorn for five seasons, from 2000-2004, coaching the Hawks for 104 games.
He also won three premierships as a player with the Hawks during a career that spanned 12 seasons.
Following his stint as Senior Coach at the Hawks, Schwab took on the role as Chairman of the AFL’s Match Review Panel, before being appointed as CEO of AFL Victoria in 2007.
He was appointed to the position of AFL Director of Coaching in 2010.
“It’s an absolute thrill to be back in the AFL system, in particular with the Brisbane Lions and working alongside Justin Leppitsch and Dean Warren.,” Schwab said.
“I’ve always had a desire at some point to get back in the AFL system and felt this was a great opportunity with a new coach and good young team.
“I feel really refreshed and am excited about the challenge ahead.”
The Lions have also appointed former Western Bulldogs’ player, Mitch Hahn, to a development coach role. Hahn, originally from Queensland, will return to his home state after his most recent stint as a development coach at Collingwood after retiring from the game at the end of the 2011 AFL season.
Hahn played 181 games for the Bulldogs between 2000 and 2011.
Meanwhile, Mark Harvey advised the Club earlier this week that he would be seeking opportunities elsewhere in 2014.
Harvey has spent the past two seasons with the Lions as a senior assistant coach and football strategist, and assumed the role as the team’s caretaker coach for the final three matches of 2013.
He arrived at the Lions with extensive coaching experience at both Essendon (eight years) and Fremantle (six years), which included a four-year stint as Senior Coach at the Dockers.
Adrian Fletcher is also moving on after serving six seasons as an assistant coach at the Lions.
Since retiring from his 231-game playing career – 107 of which were played at the Brisbane Bears/Lions – Fletcher has gained considerable coaching experience at Collingwood, Geelong, and the Lions.
On behalf of the entire Club, Warren extended his best wishes to both Harvey and Fletcher for the future.
“Mark and Adrian have been valuable members of our off-field team and we thank them for their contribution over the years,” Warren said.
