Redhill’s Sports Coaches: Champions On and Off the Field
Redhill School has long been known for its commitment to academic excellence, but in recent years, its sports programmes have gained well-deserved recognition as well. This is largely thanks to the incredible team of sports coaches whose expertise is not only shaping the future of Redhill’s students but is also sought after on local, national, and international levels.
In 2024 alone, Redhill’s sports coaches have achieved remarkable success across various sporting disciplines, and their influence extends far beyond the school grounds. These coaches are not “just” school coaches; they are seasoned professionals whose extensive experience makes them invaluable assets in the wider world of sports.
Take Myles Usher, for example, who served as the conditioning coach for the National Men’s Hockey side at the Olympics. His expertise in high-performance training has had a significant impact on the athletes he works with, and his Olympic experience only adds to his reputation as one of the top conditioning coaches in the country.
Then there’s Patrick Ross-Allen, who coached the National Students 7’s team to a silver medal at the Student World Rugby 7’s Championship in France. Coach Patrick’s dedication to developing young talent is evident in his recent appointment as the Lions U17’s 7’s coach, where he will lead the team to the Inter-Provincial tournament at the end of September.
Justin Rosenberg has also made waves, coaching the national indoor hockey team to qualify for the World Cup at the African Indoor Hockey tournament in Namibia. In addition to this accomplishment, he guided the Southern Gauteng boys U18 team to the Inter-Provincial tournament in Bloemfontein and will be coaching the Southern Gauteng Senior ladies at the Inter-Provincial tournament later this month.
Ashleigh Gray is another standout, having played in the Telkom National League and coached the Limpopo Daisies U19 team in the Telkom National age-grade tournament. Her dual role as both a player and coach provides her with unique insights that she passes on to her students, helping them excel on the field.
Nosi Njokweni’s impact is equally impressive. She led the Gauteng U16 Basketball team to victory at the national schools’ tournament and has recently been appointed as the National Girls U18 Basketball Team coach for an upcoming international tournament. Additionally, Nosi’s role as a national coach evaluator for Basketball South Africa highlights her influence within the sport on a broader scale.
Meanwhile, Michelle Pitout represented Northens Country Districts at the National Country Districts Hockey Tournament, and Roelof Kotze coached the SA Deaf Rugby National 7’s team to a third-place finish at an international tournament in August.
It’s no wonder that Redhill’s sports programmes continue to grow from strength to strength. The number of students choosing to utilise the school’s state-of-the-art High Performance Centre gym facilities and training programmes is steadily increasing. This surge in participation is not just about excelling in chosen sports; it’s also about overall health and fitness. The benefits of these programmes are clear: improved wellbeing, reduced injury rates, lower stress levels, enhanced self-confidence, and much more.
According to Redhill’s Executive Head, Joseph Gerassi, the school’s investment in the physical wellbeing of its students is a cornerstone of Redhill’s commitment to excellence. “Hiring the best of the best sports coaches is just one way we ensure that our students have access to the highest quality training and mentorship. The incredible achievements of our coaches in 2024 are just one of the many reasons why our students look up to them as role models,” says Gerassi.
With such an outstanding team of coaches leading the way, Redhill School’s future in sports looks brighter than ever. Whether on the local, national, or international stage, these coaches continue to inspire, guide, and shape the next generation of champions.
