Gary Street was named UK Coach of the Year and High-Performance Coach of the Year at of the UK Coaching Awards 2014 – supported by Gillette.
The England Women’s Rugby coach beat off stiff competition from Rory McIlroy’s coach Michael Bannon, Wales Gymnastics coach Jo Coombs, Northern Ireland’s head boxing coach John Conlan and Scottish judo coach David Somerville to walk off with the High-Performance gong.
Street also won the overall Coach of the Year Award, at sports coach UK’s glittering evening ceremony at City Chambers, in Glasgow on 19 November.
Under Street’s guidance the English team has won six consecutive Six Nations Championships, including four grand slams and lead the team to its biggest victory to date – lifting the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Paris in August after triumphing over Canada with a 21-9 scoreline. This was England’s first Women’s Rugby World Cup tournament since 1994 but their fourth consecutive World Cup final.
He joins a list of top class coaches who in previous years have included Wales coach Warren Gatland, Jessica Ennis-Hill’s coach Toni Minichiello and former England Cricket coach Andy Flower.
Coaches of Frankie Jones, who retired this summer as the most successful Welsh athlete in any Commonwealth Games with one gold and five silver medals, were named winners of the Coaching Chain Award. The Award recognises the coaches who have contributed to an athlete’s success, from firing their interest, or encouraging them in a sport, to developing their talent, to coaching them at the elite level.
Recognising the impact of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in a year in which Britain’s coaches also found success on the world stage, the judges introduced a new award this year. As head of the skilled team of coaches who helped the Scottish judo team towards 13 Commonwealth Games medals, David Somerville picked up the first Commonwealth Games Coach of the Year Award.
Head coach of Surrey Canoe Club Albert Donovan was named as the Disability Coach of the Year. The win recognises Donovan’s inclusive approach to coaching, his ability to find new ways to solve complex individual challenges faced by disabled participants and his efforts in introducing 500 young disabled people to the sport. He has also helped disabled coaches gain bursaries to help fund their courses.
Chris Facey was named Gillette Community Coach of the Year in recognition of his work with the Newham All Star Sport Academy in keeping young people away from gangs and crime through the basketball academy.
The full list of winners is:
Awards for Coaches
• UK Coach of the Year: Gary Street (Rugby Union)
• UK Coach of the Year runner-up: Chris Facey (Basketball)
• High-Performance Coach of the Year: Gary Street (Rugby Union)
• Commonwealth Games Coach of the Year: David Somerville (Judo)
• Coaching Chain Award: The coaches of Frankie Jones (Gymnastics)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dave Haller MBE (Swimming)
• Performance Development Coach of the Year: Peter Walker (Sailing)
• Disability Coach of the Year: Albert Donovan (Canoeing)
• Gillette Community Coach of the Year: Chris Facey (Basketball)
• Children’s Coach of the Year: Nicole and Joe Nunn (Judo)
• Heather Crouch Young Coach of the Year: Adam Woods (Water Polo)
Awards in Support of Coaches
• Coach Developer of the Year: Linda Low (Athletics and rugby league)
• Governing Body of the Year: British Triathlon
• Coaching Intervention of the Year: Curriculum Sports Programme – Ulster GAA and IFA