John Longmire to coach the Sydney Swans until end of 2017
JOHN Longmire will put his name alongside some of the longest-serving coaches in Sydney Swans history in the coming years after extending his contract to the end of 2017.
Already contracted until the end of 2015, Longmire has added a further two years to his deal in another sign of solidity at the club.
The 43-year-old, who has reached three finals series and won a premiership in his first three seasons at the helm, has won 48 of his 75 career matches during his coaching tenure.
By the end of his new deal, Longmire will find himself third on the club's all-time coaches list behind his two immediate predecessors, Paul Roos (202 games) and Rodney Eade (152), with the promise of more to come.
With a number of the club's playing group locked away on long-term deals, Swans chairman Andrew Pridham was pleased to now have Longmire's future settled for the next three years at least.
"John has proven an outstanding senior coach since taking on the role in 2011," he said.
“His work with the playing group and vision for our team is second to none.
"On and off the field, the club is in great shape, and shoring up John's future at until 2017 is another great step forward."
Following his 200-game playing career with North Melbourne, Longmire joined the Swans as an assistant coach back in 2002.
He then took over from Roos ahead of the 2011 campaign and has proven his ability to stay at the forefront of the AFL's ever-evolving tactics and coaching strategies.
"The club believes that having an eye for the future is equally as important as the here and now," Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland said.
"So having John commit to at least the end of 2017 gives him and (football manager) Dean Moore, the opportunity to build the football department for not only this season, but seasons to come.
“John is an incredibly hard working coach who has overseen finals campaigns in each of his three seasons in charge.
“This is a strong and united playing group that continually sets high standards for themselves and much of that is owed to John’s leadership."
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