The Central Coast Mariners are a club on the mend. The club’s players, staff and fans went through a turbulent campaign last season with on field results not living up the club’s fans high expectations.
Off-field criticism also came with the club accused of not doing enough to engage the people of the Central Coast and to entice them to attend more games. This upcoming season however; the Mariners are a completely different team with a different methodology. The Mariners are keen on a resurgence this season and to make a play at the finals. This new stage the club is entering begins with new
Strength and Conditioning Coach Brice Johnson. Brice has had a fantastic career in sprinting and has worked with various professional sporting clubs. While he has worked mostly in rugby league, he is a huge football fan and he is relishing his new role at the Mariners. I had a chance to sit down with Brice to talk football, his career and anything else we could think of.
Josh Howe: First off, thanks for sitting down with me Brice
Brice Johnson: No worries mate
JH: You’ve had an interesting career so far, what persuaded you to come to the Mariners?
BJ: It was always a dream of mine to end up back here at the club. This is the only club both my wife and l actively support together, we always had our different teams in different codes. I knew Andrew Clark as a sprint coach and when he moved on, l also knew Hutch, he mentioned my name to Tony Walmsley and things progressed from there. They wanted to make a change and the decision was made to go with someone new in the fitness area. Had a couple of chats with Tony on the phone and met him and it progressed really well from there. First thing l wanted to do was make sure the job was a good fit, I’ve worked in places where it wasn’t quite a good fit for me as a person. I knew I’d be able to work with Tony and l wanted to be involved with a team who play exciting and entertaining football and l believe we can do this, this season
JH: Your background is as a sprinter, what accolades did you win in sprinting?
BJ: As an individual, l won silver in the 1998 World Championships on the beach. That was in New Zealand. I’ve been lucky enough to compete in the USA, Italy, NZ and Australia. I got 7th in 2004 at the World Champs and l was lucky enough to be in a relay team that’s been inducted into the Australian Surf Life Saving Hall of Fame. We won seven national titles, and five in a row at one point which is a record. I was the only member to win all seven and I’m really proud of that. We also won four World Championships together as a relay team. There was a six year period where we didn’t lose a major meet.
JH: That is a very impressive career Brice. You’ve now transitioned into a coaching role. As a fit person, was this job an easy fit for you?
BJ: Initially no, it was a hobby. I was still sprinting at 31. I got a job as a local rugby league sprint coach and the boys said to me have you thought about doing this professionally. And l said no as l hadn’t really thought about it. The boys said they had enjoyed training under me. I had a think about it and l worked out a way to become a professional strength and conditioning coach.
JH: What professional clubs have you previously worked for?
BJ: I’ve had a couple. My start were the Newcastle Knights in 2009-2010 with their under 20’s and also doing bits and pieces with the first grade side. I was charged with looking at the speed and power point of view and really everything strength and conditioning. Then l was lucky enough to be offered a chance to go and work with the Sydney Roosters for two seasons. I learned a lot with my time there, from great people working around me, but l made a few mistakes there and definitely learned from them. After that, l was a new dad with the birth of my first child and l had a bit of free time and then l was lucky enough to be offered a new job to be working at NSW Cup level rugby league, also went back to teaching and then l was offered a job to work with Hull Kingston Rovers over in the English Super League. It was a wonderful life experience and l learned a lot. Less mistakes, progressed a lot as a person and a strength and conditioning coach. When that finished l came home and went back to teaching and that was when the Mariners job became available and l couldn’t resist the opportunity.
JH: Since you’ve been involved with a few professional clubs over the years, is there anything you can learn from your time working with rugby league and take those lessons into football?
BJ: Yeah you can, l was looking at things from the past here and l thought we were a little bit light in the weights department. I look at weights primarily from a lower body point of view and l think we can do with more running strength and power for late acceleration. This means that for example Fabio Ferreira wins a ball rather than going into defence. It’s those split second moments that can sometimes decide a game. Strength was a main topic of one of the first meetings l had with the staff here.
I thought we needed to have a more structured weights program. Other thing l have taken from league is that they are very big on body language. You’ve got to try and never look tired, because very clever players will look to that and just say ‘’run at that guy because he’s in trouble’’ I believe that can be transferred over to football quite easily. For example, we could observe that an opposition defender is looking tired and we can get a message out there to attack that guy down the sides. Always be aware of your body language and what you portray to others on the field.
JH: One thing the Mariners have over many clubs in the league is that community aspect. What do you think is the main key to get the community back onside after last season falling below expectations?
BJ: It’s a real interesting question. Being a fan overseas at that time l was talking to my wife and was wondering what was happening to our club because it felt like mixed messages were coming out. I think the appointment of Shaun Mielekamp was a very strong message to say that we’ve now got a Coast local and l think Tony and Shaun portray a really good image for the club and that we’re not going anywhere, we’re here to stay, the new strip that gets unveiled shortly, portrays a really strong community message. Also our fan nights are a great thing to engage with the fans and basically ask them their honest opinions.
I was talking to Tony and just said if you want a local boy with a certain level of expertise, l’m your man. I’m not interested in working anywhere else, l want to stay on the Coast and I’m sure this team want to stay here. The next generation are important also because of the kids l was teaching. All they know is the Mariners. We’re into the 11th season now. It’s so important to engage them to become fans. In terms of on the pitch. We’re going to win some, we’re going to lose some, fantastic days and tough days, but l think if we can commit to this style of entertaining football we are implementing l think the fans will really embrace that. And l know that our fans appreciate their players having a crack and playing the full 90 no matter the score.
JH: Thanks for your time today Brice and good luck in the season ahead
BJ: Thank you
I want to thank Brice for his time and giving me an opportunity to talk to him about his impressive career as an athlete and now coach. The Mariners side are definitely in the right hands with Brice looking to get the absolute best out of the players and he is a key element to the Central Coast’s success in the upcoming season.
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