In South Africa there have been many legendary school sports coaches that have touched the lives of several of today’s and past, professional rugby players, cricketers, Olympians and others.
Take DHS’s Izak van Heerden who coached between 1946-1950 and is credited for the golden age of DHS rugby when winning was the norm and not the exception.
Jake White: Without doubt Jeppe’s most famous coach where he coached during the successful years of 1989-1994.
Evan Martin : Who coached Rondebosch Boy’s first team rugby for over three decades
Ingo Machts: The legendary Grey College coach of over 30 years
Mike Bechet: Maritzburg College’s hockey and cricket coach since 1981-2013. During his long reign of over 660 hockey games six of his 1st Teams were unbeaten. Now continuing his legacy at Jeppe.
Graham Hill: The Swimming Coach who has helped guide Westville Boy’s High to the very top of the sport. His stable includes Olympians like gold medallist Chad le Clos
Skonk Nicholson: Maritzburg College’s rugby coach producing 10 unbeaten First XV’s and a further 12 that lost only one match during his 35 seasons at the helm
Sakkie van der Walt: The inspirational rugby coach at the Affies for a decade
Tony Godding: Selborne’s Mr.Hockey who took them to the top of school hockey
Andrew Hibbart: Grey High School renowned hockey coach
Let us know who you think is South Africa’s Most Legendary Coach, a coach who is/was a true leader and inspiration. Who could raise a player beyond merely making them into good athletes but into good people.
If your coach is not on the list to vote for, mention them in the comments, their name, sport and where they coached.
This poll is no longer accepting votes
Please note the poll closes on the 12th June, 2020.
This poll is now over and the votes are in. Congratualations to Mr. Mike “Bech” Bechet who has topped the list with a landside of just under 54% of the vote!
Many thanks to all who voted the response was magnificent!
He coached my husband and my son. Brilliant coach.
coaches
Tony Godding
Des Donald Grey College Hockey coach, under his guidance Grey went unbeaten and were number 1 for years
No Bishops? Basil Bey and Andre Jacobs legendary rugby coaches. Warren Wallace same for hockey..
Think you should redraft the list – where are the likes of Skip Henderson, Stoney Steenkamp, Jos Labuschagne, Visagie from Boishaai? I can think of many more!
Stoney Steenkamp Paarl Boys High ? Grey College Bloemfontein had a famous first team coach with the same name.Is this correct
The best was Stoney Steenkamp from Grey. The coach with the best statistics 26 SA Schoolsplayers in 6 years Ingo Machts and his assistant Roelf Meyer. The latter still a SA schools selector. Fortunately for their opponents both were sacked in 2012. According to Rapport their successor Wessel Du Plessis on his way to the Bulls/ Jake White. I am in favour of a teacher/ coach. I am
More interested in education and life philosophy.
Tony Godding , you are an inspirational and insightful hockey genius. You are, hands down, one of the most well respected mentors of all time. We are privileged and blessed to have experienced the impact you had on our Selbornians and beyond . Irrespective of the outcome, you ARE the best school coach of all time. Accolades accolades accolades 👌