Tasmania have announced Ken Hinkley’s appointment as the AFL expansion club’s first senior coach.
The Devils’ decision to choose Hinkley over John Longmire and Nathan Buckley was exclusively revealed by 7NEWS reporter Tom Morris on Sunday.
The club said Hinkley’s “reputation as a genuine father figure” to players at Port Adelaide was crucial.
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“We didn’t set out to find the candidate with the single best win-loss record in this process, we set out to find the right coach for exactly what Tasmania needs right now,” club chair Grant O’Brien said in a statement on Monday.
“Ken’s ability to build relationships with young players, and to build an environment that people want to be part of is exceptional, it is the number one reason we believe he is the right fit for this club.
“We are building a list, a program and a club from the ground up, largely with young and developing talent.
“That demands a head coach who is, first and foremost, a brilliant teacher and a builder of people, and that is exactly what Ken is.”
Hinkley has signed a five-year deal, taking into account next year and the Devils’ first four years in the AFL.
He will get to work immediately alongside the club’s relatively barebones football department, with their first pre-season about 15 months away.
“It’s a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to build something from the very beginning,” Hinkley said.
“The responsibility to lead Tasmania’s entry into the AFL is something very special, it excites me.
“There will be many ups and downs, and challenges that lie ahead, including the build of our football department, but I have unique and directly relevant experience to take these on alongside the broader football club.
“Tasmania is a proud football state, and I can’t wait to get to know the players, staff, partners and community who have, and will continue to be part of this from day one.”
