The Great Coaching Moment of the Year* – supported by Spond – celebrates not only the outright success of coaches, but their devotion to their team or athlete and how they have embodied the ethos of great coaching. This year’s shortlist has shown a unique commitment and exceptional leadership to lay the foundations for historic sporting successes.
Nominated and judged by an independent panel, this year’s finalists are:
Sarina Wiegman – England end 56 years of hurt with victory at Euro 2022
The nation roared in unison as the Lionesses won the European Championships at a delirious Wembley Stadium to end England football’s interminable trophy drought that had stretched back to 1966.
On the day football – finally – came home, it was a Dutch coach who became the pride of England. Sarina Wiegman deservedly took her share of the plaudits in recognition of a coaching masterclass every bit as magnificent as the tournament heroics of her players.
David Murdoch MBE – Team Muirhead win gold for women’s curlers at Beijing
When Great Britain curling coach David Murdoch teamed up with another Goliath of Scottish curling in four-time Olympian Eve Muirhead OBE for this year’s Winter Olympics, Team GB had high hopes. And sure thing, ‘Team Muirhead’ held their nerve and delivered. Eve, Vicky Wright MBE, Hailey Duff MBE, Jen Dodds MBE and Mili Smith MBE were all worth their weight in gold as Team GB secured their only gold medal of the Games – and first curling gold for 20 years. It was, says David, “the perfect performance” as Japan were brushed aside 10-3 in the final.
David Ralph – England women’s hockey team strike Commonwealth gold for the first time
Since hockey was introduced as a Commonwealth Games sport in 1998, England women have endured a catalogue of near misses. That they ended their jinx against old foes Australia – who England had failed to beat in eight games stretching back nine years – made the moment all the sweeter.
The unrestrained joy was mirrored by the coaching staff, particularly David Ralph, the man tasked with improving on England’s record of silver medals in 1998, 2002 and 2014 and bronze medals in 2006, 2010 and 2018.
Liz McColgan-Nuttall MBE – Eilish McColgan’s 10,000 metres win completes remarkable Commonwealth Games family treble
On the 25th and final lap at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, Eilish McColgan in front of her mother and running coach – Liz McColgan-Nuttall – summoned the energy for a finishing kick and squeezed past the right shoulder of Irene Cheptai with 70 metres to go. She held off the Kenyan to win the 10,000 metres title in thrilling fashion, emulating the achievement of her mum Liz, who won the 10,000 metres gold in Edinburgh in 1986 and Auckland in 1990.
Liz has been Eilish’s running coach since she was 12, and this moment was the culmination of 20 years’ hard work. She had just watched her daughter break another of her long-distance records – this one having stood for 32 years – but the proud coach and super proud mum was all the happier for it.