KANGAROO Flat’s Jason Stevens will step down as coach of the Roos at the end of the BFNL season, but will stay on at the club next year in the new role as director of football.
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Stevens is in his third season as coach of the Roos, who are on track to make finals for the first time since 2009.
Stevens took over as coach after the Roos had claimed the wooden spoon in 2013 with just two wins, and heading into Saturday’s home clash against Maryborough at Bendigo Mazda Oval has a 23-26 win-loss record.
“The timing is right… it’s the right thing for me to do and the right thing for the footy club going forward,” Stevens said on Friday.
“It refreshes the place and I certainly feel a lot less pressure and stress after the decision has become public.”
The role of director of football that Stevens will take up in 2017 is set to be wide-ranging.
“It’s a chance to lead the footy department from the small things in terms of support for the coaches to managing contracts, budgets, player points and things like that, as well as junior development,” Stevens said.
“There’s a fair bit in the role and hopefully, by picking up some of that stuff it will make it a bit easier for my successor to just concentrate on the coaching.”
The Roos’ announcement comes with five rounds left in the home and away season and the senior side sitting in fifth position with an 8-5 record.
“I think announcing the decision now will be a positive going forward,” Stevens said.
“I’ve felt there’s been a bit of pressure on myself and the playing group, which is a new thing for Kangaroo Flat with the expectation of going into games where we’re now expected to win.
“By putting it out now and letting people know what will be happening next year I feel allows us to reset and relax a bit and push through these last five rounds and do the job we set out to at the start of the year, which is to play finals in seniors and reserves.
“The reserves have that box ticked, the seniors still have to do so.”
Kangaroo Flat president Greg McClure said the Roos had been in discussions with Stevens about his coaching future for the past three months.
“Jason’s workload and his commitment over the past three years has been outstanding,” McClure said.
“We thank Jason for his many hours of work. We also thank his family for putting up with the football club’s demanding hours.
“We all look forward to Jason’s continued involvement; we know he will be a tremendous support for the new senior coach in 2017 in his role as director of football.”
