The Sydney Swans are excited to announce the appointment of Tim Davis as the new head coach of the Northern NSW QBE Swans Academy.

The 37-year-old has a wealth of football experience having spent time with the Adelaide Crows before playing senior football with North Adelaide and Central District in South Australia.

Davis, a teacher at St John Paul College, has been living in Coffs Harbour for the past three years and has already commenced the new head coach role.

Swans Academy Operations Manager Chris Smith said securing Davis is a major coup for the Academy.

“We’re really excited that someone of Tim’s calibre has decided to join us as the new coach of the Northern NSW Academy and build on the work the Academy has done in the area in the four years it’s been running,” Smith said.

“Tim has an enormous amount of experience, he’s an outstanding teacher of young people and he comes from a rich AFL culture in Adelaide, so we believe he’ll be a real asset for the Academy and for local kids aspiring to play at the elite level.

“For us, the Northern NSW area is a huge priority as we truly believe there are a lot of talented AFL footballers who, through an elite pathway like the Academy, have what it takes to make it.

“We’ve got no doubt Tim will do a great job opening the doors of the Academy to local kids from the area, in particular the large Indigenous population, to give them all of the training and coaching needed to ensure they’re given every possible chance of being drafted.”

Davis said he was excited by the opportunity to coach the Academy and be involved in football again.

“It was actually a bit of a surprise to get the call to coach but it was the right time for me and a perfect fit to work for a great club like the Sydney Swans,” Davis said.

“I’m really excited to get back into football and to coach some really talented players from Northern NSW who I know can make it at the elite level.

“I’ve lived in Coffs Harbour for the past three years and have seen kids kicking the ball around in the school yard so I know there’s a thirst for the game and there’s certainly enough talented players who I know have bright futures ahead of them.

“We saw this year with the three NSW boys being drafted by the Swans, one of which was from the rugby-league dominated Newcastle, that it’s possible for young kids from our zone to make it in the AFL.

“I look forward to creating an inclusive environment and teaching local kids about the importance of teamwork, discipline and hard work so they have every opportunity possible to join the growing number of NSW players on club lists.”