Miguel Coley moving up

Marc Stamp, Gleaner Writer

Newly appointed national senior men's football team assistant coach and Under-23 head coach, Miguel Coley, is on a steady path to prominence in his chosen profession.

Coley, little known as a football coach, turned heads when he took control of Jamaica College (JC) last season and won the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield titles.

As a reward for his success at the schoolboy level, Coley was selected to the national football programme by head coach Winfried Schafer last month.

That move sparked debate in the media and local football circles, concerning the pros and cons about Coley's appointment to such a high-profile position in a short career.

At age 31, Coley is understudy to German national Schafer.

Looking back at the schoolboy season, Coley told The Gleaner: "It was a wonderful season, the kids were committed and cohesive as a group. The finished product was on match day.

"That game against Charlie Smith (2-0 down) in the second round tested our mettle and, with some tactical adjustment, we rallied for a 4-2 win," Coley reflected, while watching a KSAFA Under-17 game at Maverley Park.

Though being appointed to the national programme, Coley said he will remain in charge of JC's football programme.

Also a teacher

"I am still at JC. It's more than just a coaching job there as I am a physical education teacher there," he pointed out.

For Coley, the voyage into coaching started years ago, when he got injured while representing Waterhouse FC in the Premier League.

"While at Mico University College, I went back to my community in Mile Gully, in Manchester, each summer, since 2003, and assisted coach Baron 'Barry' Watson," he shared.

Coley represented Holmwood Technical in the daCosta Cup and Mile Gully FC in midfield. He played for Waterhouse in 2005. However, injury forced an early end to his promising career.

After leaving Mico, he went to Norman Manley High as a teacher and assistant coach to Alrick Clarke. Following Clarke's move to Calabar High, Coley was in charge of Norman Manley's Manning Cup team from 2008, until another door opened for him, at JC, in 2013.

He spent five seasons at Norman Manley and guided them to the semi-finals twice. When Alfred Henry resigned at JC, Coley took charge of the football programme.

Now with the national programme, Coley said: "It is a learning process and, for Jamaica's football to improve, the coaches have to improve.

No surprise

"It didn't surprise me when the coach (Schafer) called with news of the appointment. I am always humble and ready for the next challenge. I am willing to learn," he shared.

Coley recently returned from his first tour with the national team, where they won both games against Caribbean teams St Lucia and Barbados.

"It was a great experience being part of the coaching staff. I believe in Jamaicans and I'm familiar with some of the players, during my playing days and as a coach. We have to train local players and keep them motivated," Coley added.

Looking ahead, Coley said he would love to coach internationally and hopes Jamaica qualify for the World Cup in Russia, in 2018.

Football apart, Coley also played cricket, basketball and volleyball. He won the Sportsman of the Year award at Mico University.

"I am also a poet and I've performed in Florida and, locally, and won the Red Bones Cafe Poet of the Year in 2012," Coley disclosed.

"Poetry, for me, is a leisure time activity that helps me in coaching. You have to have space in the brain for thinking. I take time out to observe individuals and watch football to see how best changes can be made," he said.

"Success is more than just an act, it is a structure, and that is what we have at JC with Prinncipal Ruel Reid and manager Ian Forbes, as well as others," he noted.