Longmire stands down as Swans coach, Cox to take reins
John Longmire knew midway through the year, even as Sydney were playing well, that his time as senior coach was coming to an end. On Monday, he told the club it was over.
With a year to run on his contract, Longmire has stood down as Sydney’s senior coach, replaced immediately by assistant Dean Cox.
The Swans confirmed the changes on Tuesday. Longmire will remain at the club in a new role as executive director of club performance.
Swans coach John Longmire.Credit: AFL Photos
“I had been wrestling with the decision about whether I would coach on for 2025 since about midway through last season,” Longmire said in a statement ahead of his afternoon press conference.
“The team was travelling really well – in fact this year as good as we ever have – however, even during this year with the team’s superb on-field form and our football department working really well in support, I felt in myself that my time as coach of the club was coming towards a close.
“After such a long time coaching, the week in, week out, really does start to wear on you. I feel that I need to step back from coaching to rest, reflect and regenerate.
“I’ve always been interested in the strategic areas of the club’s growth, and as time has gone on, I’ve felt myself being drawn more and more towards this aspect. After a bit more time to rest, I’m looking forward to helping the club on its path of continuous improvement both on and off the field.
“I knew Dean was ready and it just made sense to hand over. It would have been nice to finish with a flag, as I did as a player, but that wasn’t to be.
“I am genuinely excited for Dean. He will be a fantastic coach and will give the role a new lease of life and take it to another level.
“I am so fortunate to have spent nearly half of my life as part of this club with the stability and the professionalism it provides. We don’t take it for granted. It’s a big part of the reason the club has managed to stay so competitive year in, year out, despite the equalised nature of the competition.”
Cox has been part of Sydney’s coaching structure since 2017, and most recently has overseen game strategy and performance and has been more heavily involved in list management decisions this off-season.
The 42-year-old had been a target of West Coast in their hunt for a senior coach, before the Eagles appointed Andrew McQualter, but Cox opted not to pursue the job.
“Just as John was the beneficiary of a transition into the role from Paul Roos, I am very pleased to have been mentored into this role by John. It is very much part of the Swans way, and I’m extremely excited for next year and beyond,” Cox said.
“I’m grateful to John for his support of me and for being a great coaching mentor. Having him remain at the club is fantastic as it will allow everyone right across the organisation to draw on his vast experience.
“It’s an honour to take the baton from John. I understand the enormous responsibility this role brings, and I’m looking forward to getting to work and continuing the success of this great club for our loyal supporters.”
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham said the board had known of Longmire’s longer-term plans.
“John advised us some 18 months ago that he felt within himself that his time as senior coach would likely end at the completion of either season 2024 or 2025. The process that we have followed after John advising us of his longer-term intentions reflects our preferred approach of managed and seamless succession,” Pridham said in the club’s statement.
“Being a senior AFL coach is a taxing role and we greatly respect John’s desire to play an alternative, but important, part in our club’s future. His decision to step down a year earlier than had been envisaged was not an easy one for him. However, I deeply respect his reasons and the way he has worked with the club to prepare Dean as his successor, particularly over the past 18 months.
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“Dean is highly respected right across the AFL and ready to take up the reins.”
The Swans will hold a press conference at 1.30pm. CEO Tom Harley will not be there as he deals with a family matter.
Longmire was not in the Swans’ room on draft night, and a source said he was not present for the first day of pre-season training for the full list on Monday. While a plan had been in place for Cox and Ben Matthews to run pre-season this year, his absence on day one of pre-season gave club people an inkling something was happening.
One of the most respected and highly regarded coaches in football, the 53-year-old coached the Swans to a premiership in 2012 before suffering grand final losses in 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2024. He was contracted for the upcoming season.
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