Shane Hutchinson is returning to senior coaching ranks in the Ballarat Football League.
The Ballarat Swans have appointed their star onballer to step up to take the position vacated by Ash Baker.
This is the second time Hutchinson has coached Ballarat, having been at the helm in 2011 and 2012.
Hutchinson, 33, said opportunities to coach at this level did not come along too often and he was at the stage in his football career when he was starting to think about involvement beyond his playing days. He said this was ideal fit.
He has no intention of hanging up his boots yet though – confident he still has at least a few more seasons left as a player.
The 2014 Henderson Medalist’s form reinforces this view, with Hutchinson tying for second in the BFL best and fairest on Monday night.
Ballarat president Darren Fraser said the Swans had undertaken an extensive search for a coach and Hutchinson had been by far the stand-out candidate.
Hutchinson is one of the BFL’s most experienced players, having been a North Ballarat Rebels best and fairest, playing North Roosters and South Adelaide.
Originally with East Point in the BFL, he first joined the Swans as an assistant coach in 2010 after an injury-interrupted stay at Warrack Eagles.
He took two years off to travel with his family before returning Ballarat in 2014.
Hutchinson was a skills and development coach at Alfredton this year.
