Horse has bolted: Longmire set to resign as Swans coach

Updated

SYDNEY coach John Longmire is set to quit after 14 seasons in the role.

The Swans have called a press conference for a 'major club announcement' on Tuesday afternoon.

Long-time assistant coach Dean Cox, who was considered a contender for the West Coast coaching job before turning down his former club's interest, will take over from Longmire.

It is understood he was communicated that decision on Monday.

Longmire has been at the helm of the Swans since 2011 and was contracted to coach the club in 2025.

The 2012 premiership winner led his club to two Grand Finals in the past three seasons, both of which ended in heavy defeats.

Longmire won a flag in 2012, just his second year in charge, and has since steered his side to Grand Finals in 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2024 without tasting the ultimate success again.

Longmire, 53, took over from club great Paul Roos as senior coach ahead of the 2011 season and guided the Swans to finals in all but two of his 14 seasons at the helm. 

He finishes his coaching career in Sydney with an overall winning percentage of 62.9 from his club-record 333 games, with 208 wins, 122 losses and three draws.

Of the 56 coaches in VFL/AFL history to have coached 150 or more games, Longmire has the sixth-best winning percentage.

Longmire, a champion player at North Melbourne who won the 1990 Coleman Medal and played in the 1999 premiership, started his time at the Swans in 2002 as an assistant to Roos, playing a role in the club's drought-breaking 2005 flag.

More to come ...

Games: 333
Wins: 208
Draws: 3
Losses: 122
Win percentage: 62.91
Premierships: 2012
Grand Finals: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2024

Best win percentage as coach (min 150 games)
68.11 - Chris Scott (Geelong)
66.99 - Dick Reynolds (Essendon)
66.06 - Jock McHale (Collingwood)
65.08 - Frank Hughes (Richmond, Melbourne)
64.75 - Tom Hafey (Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong, Sydney)
62.91 - John Longmire (Sydney)