Melbourne Victory W-League Head Coach Jeff Hopkins has been named the 2019 Coach of the Year at the Victorian Sport Awards at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Hopkins was awarded the honour ahead of a strong field of finalists which included Lisa Alexander (Netball), Scott Talbot (Swimming) and Peter McNeil (Mogul Skiing).
Hopkins won the accolade after steering Melbourne Victory’s women’s team to the Westfield W-League Premiership in 2019, for Victory becoming the first ever Australian club to be invited to compete in the AFC Women’s Club Championship and for being awarded the 2019 W-League Coach of the Season, which was voted for by his peers and Football Federation Australia.
Hopkins has been synonymous with the female football pathway providing opportunities for young Victorian female athletes to play for Victory’s W-League team for many years.
He is also active in delivering coach education and female participation workshops across the State specifically in Albury-Wodonga and Morwell during 2019.
2019 also saw Hopkins deliver Melbourne Victory’s first Girls Pre-Academy Centre for talented females aged 8-14 years old, a pilot which due to him has now been expanded to two further metropolitan centres for 2020.
The award comes in the lead up to Victory’s Super Saturday double header at the same venue, where Hopkins will be hoping his squad can overcome Sydney FC and potentially secure a home final.
The Victorian Sport Awards recognises and celebrates the achievements of home-grown premier athletes, grassroots heroes and those who have shown commitment and dedication to community sport in Victoria.
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