World No. 4 Australia announced Kere Johanson as Head Coach of its National Team ahead of the XVI WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship slated to be played from 13-23 June 2019 in Prague and Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic.
Johanson brings a wealth of experience to the biggest stage having held an Assistant Coach role for the Aussie Steelers in 2009 in Saskatoon, Canada, when the team won gold and in 2013 in Auckland, NZ, when the team won bronze. He has also been Head Coach of the Travelodge Aussie Spirit.
Along with his new Head Coach role, Johanson joins the Australian Men’s Coaching Panel with Harrow (Head), Matt Chapman, Aaron Cockman, Geoff Coultas, James Harris, Nathan Jones, David Metekingi, Adam Rindfleish and Chris Holliday who is a new addition to the panel.
Laing Harrow stepped away from the Head Coach role with the Aussie Steelers earlier this year to focus his efforts on the Travelodge Aussie Spirit team, in the hunt of an Olympic berth in Tokyo 2020.
“I’m really excited to take the Head Coach role with the Aussie Steelers,” said Johanson.
“Laing has done a great job with the team in the past and we’re in a strong position to make another charge at gold in the World Championship coming up.
“That’s our immediate priority so I’m looking forward to working with the Men’s Selectors and selecting a team for Prague in the coming days.”
Johanson will be assisted by Geoff Coultas (Assistant Coach), Mike Titheradge (Team Manager), Bernie Simai (Physiotherapist) and Chris Trengove (Statistician) for the upcoming World Championship campaign, with an additional official to be appointed in the coming weeks.
Softball Australia looks forward to announcing the 2019 Aussie Steelers team to travel to Prague in the coming days.
