Dean Cox's decision with wife vindicated as John Longmire calls it quits as Sydney Swans coach
The Swans have confirmed their new head coach after Longmire stepped down.
Dean Cox's decision to remain in Sydney with his wife and kids instead of moving back home to the West Coast Eagles has paid off, with Swans coach John Longmire stepping down on Tuesday. The Swans have confirmed that Longmire will leave the role he's held since 2011, with long-time assistant Cox to take over.
Longmire will immediately step into another role at the Swans, becoming the club's executive director of performance. The veteran coach flagged after Sydney's loss in the 2024 grand final that he was considering his future, and he's now decided to call it quits.
"I had been wrestling with the decision about whether I would coach on for 2025 since about midway through last season," Longmire said on Tuesday. "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."
The end of an era. The longest serving coach in our 150-year history.
Premiership coach John Longmire has informed the club he wishes to step aside from the senior coaching role.
Thank you for everything Horse ❤️— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) November 26, 2024
Dean Cox to take over after staying in Sydney for family
It means Swans assistant coach Cox will take over in the top job after recently knocking back interest to join West Coast. Cox is an Eagles legend and helped them win the flag in 2006, and was thought to be odds-on to take over as head coach when Adam Simpson left the role earlier this year.
But the 43-year decided to remain at the Swans and cited the fact his wife and kids are settled in Sydney. "I am extremely happy in Sydney, and I believe this is the best place for me and my family at the moment," Cox said in July. "My two girls are 8 and 11 and have made solid friendships at school, and my wife is running a new business which she is passionate about, so we feel staying in Sydney is the best option for us right now."
With Longmire now departing, Cox's decision has been vindicated. The Swans would seemingly be in a much better position than the Eagles for immediate success.
"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," said Cox, who has signed a four-year deal after first joining the club in 2017. "It is very much part of the Swans way, and I'm extremely excited for next year and beyond."
John Longmire's horror grand final streak despite success
Longmire led the Swans to the 2012 premiership, but suffered grand final losses in 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2024. The Swans were absolutely thrashed in the final two of those losses, belted by Brisbane by 10 goals this year despite being the best team all season.
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Speaking in September, leading reporter Damien Barrett said Swans bosses couldn't ignore the fact Longmire had lost four grand finals in a row. “This can’t be walked past,” Barrett said on the Sunday Footy Show. “John Longmire we know has been wrestling with his own future beyond next year, he is contracted, but to be smashed now twice inside three seasons to add the 2016 grand final and the 2014 grand final to the losses he has had as the coach of this footy club, I expect this club to fully debrief this one and I think some big conversations will be had.”
Longmire has an overall winning percentage of 62.9 from 333 games in charge of the Swans, with 208 wins, 122 losses and three draws. He had a successful playing career with North Melbourne, featuring in 200 games for the Kangaroos and winning the Coleman Medal in 1990 for most goals in the league.
Loved having John Longmire as my coach.
He guided the @sydneyswans to incredible heights & a level of respect across the industry during his tenure.
💯 deserving of more ultimate success, but things don’t always go to plan.
Tassie should be throwing the kitchen sink at him.— Jude Bolton (@Jude_Bolton) November 26, 2024
John Longmire will today step down as Swans coach after a 14-year stint in charge. Twelve finals series and a premiership from five Grand Finals. Heck of a run. https://t.co/cF6hffzC5m
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) November 25, 2024
Longmire comfortably Sth Melb/Sydney’s greatest coach - club record 333 games (131 more than next most) & 5 grand finals. But losing 4 GFs in a row is pretty hard to come back from mentally. Would drive you a bit mad
— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) November 25, 2024
Five Grand Finals for John Longmire, but 3 were whippings (2014, 2022 and 2024) and 2016 was a huge upset losing to Footscray who finished 7th in 2016 after the Swans finished 1st.
Still a very good tenure as Swans coach. Well played, Horse.
Big boy Dean Cox to take over now. pic.twitter.com/qXuxR8O1v1— Kevin Pollard (@football_roos) November 25, 2024
The warning signs were there. John Longmire wasn’t even there on draft night, Dean Cox was already in the big seat https://t.co/7X5b0Vf8d0
— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) November 25, 2024
Timing makes John Longmire’s exit a surprise, but four GF defeats would surely take a psychological toll. He’s been terrific for Swans though, so consistent with 6 top four finishes, 12 finals campaigns from 14 seasons. And Sydney has always stayed competitive. Well played Horse. pic.twitter.com/lDOuR2N3Ha
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) November 26, 2024