Jobs4Football meets Jamie McDonough
Jobs4Football spoke to Coach, Coach Educator and mentor, Jamie McDonough, who is putting on a course for aspiring high performance coaches.
McDonough has been involved in coaching since 2005 and in that time he has become a Head coach, UEFA coach educator and coaching consultant, a UEFA A license coach, a qualified teacher, and is now running his own mentorship programme.
The course is set to start in the South East of England in late April and will be completely free for all upcoming coaches who are currently working in the coaching industry at anylevel.
“We want to help coaches get a better understanding of the world they aspire to work in, so we are taking applications from people who want to work in high performance environments.
“The course will provide a 15/16 month insight into high performance environments and access to mentoring which will support them with their career development, as well as receiving a formal Level 4 qualification from The Chartered Institute for the management of Sport. They will also be able to gain knowledge of what it’s like working in a performance environment, from a range of experts within the industry, so they are best prepared for the roles in the future.
“I’ve spent a long time working with a wide array of coaches who are committed and dedicated to their vocation, so finding ways to support them to continue their journey has always been a big passion of mine. I understand the sacrifices, work and learning that go into becoming a professional coach but I am also never afraid to admit that it also takes a bit of luck to be the right person, in the right place, at the right time. My goal is to help provide them with a little bit of knowledge from people across the industry so they have the best shot at being that right person when that right time arrives.”
As well as his work in coach education, McDonough is also a Head Coach who has worked in 6 different countries, and he is currently the Head Coach of newly formed Spanish club Atletico San Jorge.
When discussing his current role, he said: “It’s a really interesting role and opportunity, I’m incredibly excited about the potential of the project. What it has done is given me a new opportunity to network and engage with people in a different country, in a different part of the world and help me also get involved with another language, which will only further enhance my learning and understanding of the role.
“As a head coach it’s all about building connections with people that you work with, the people that you work for and all the people around you who can support you to create an environment and culture that will help you go on and get results.
“I want to wake up every Monday and feel there is some sort of challenge, so going to different countries and trying different things has always been good for me, it’s exciting. I do understand that some people won’t be like that, but as long as you are committed and are more focused on solving problems than finding them then you have got a good chance, especially in football.”
As well as his current role, McDonough has also been the head coach for Icelandic second division side Tindastol, and he has also coached a number of roles in England ranging from Newcastle United to Eton College alongside a decade at The FA.
Having built up his knowledge and experience in these roles over the last decade, what advice would McDonough have for people who are considering a career in the sport?
“I would say go for it, if you have the commitment to take the lows with the highs. Having the guts to take that first step and commit to it is what has changed my life from what is was going to be to what it has become now, and each year I become happier with the decision I made. In terms of coaching, a combination of bravery to gain experience, and confidence in your knowledge through those experiences will only lead you to become better at what you do.”
“When it comes to the thing I wish I would have known when I first started out is understanding how wide the football world is. For Example, so many coaches I meet want to work in the top academies in England, but there just isn’t enough roles for everyone who wants them. Understanding there are many opportunities in football out there and that your careerevolution won’t necessarily be linear and direct to your goals, but if you are open minded there are opportunities out there, and they might just surpass your original targets! I grew up in Newcastle, but I’ve spent parts of this winter in London, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Spain – working in Football made that possible”
For more information on the course click the link – https://mailchi.mp/e6e918e69712/hs2zij4ro8