After a two-year break from the head coach position, Kosta Jaric took over West Adelaide's WNPL side for the 2024 season with a simple but unexpected objective that has seen Hellas rediscover their swagger. Jaric spoke to Front Page Football about his journey as his team prepares for a Grand Final against Salisbury Inter.
West Adelaide captain Nicole Blackett (centre left) and head coach Kosta Jaric (centre right) celebrate winning the 2024 WNPL & WSL Cup. (Image: Pagonis Photography)
Kosta Jaric's coaching career began while he was still a player, a rarity in this day and age. Unlike the traditional 'player-coach' role, usually taken by players with ambitions in the technical area who are not ready to retire, Jaric's journey in the dugout started in the Adelaide University Women's program while he was simultaneously playing in the men's program.
While helping Adelaide University start their State League Two men's team, Jaric was presented with the opportunity to coach the club's Division Three women's team. He naturally progressed through the ranks, eventually taking over the ranks of the WNPL program.
"I stayed with the club and found a real taste for coaching...We slowly climbed through the community divisions, from Division Three to Division One, and I was given the opportunity to take over the Reserves team; when Tracey Jenkins was moving on from the club, I was offered the opportunity to take the WNPL side," Jaric shared with Front Page Football.
Jaric's four-year tenure as head coach of Adelaide University's WNPL side was highlighted by providing young players with opportunities to impress. Under his leadership, the club reached the Finals Series and the WNPL & WSL Cup Final. His next big opportunity came in a coaching course at Uni, when he was in the same group as Football SA NTC coach Michele Lastella.
"Michele identified my ability to develop young players...the best example is Sasha Coorey, who debuted in the WNPL at 15 and trained with the Under 17 and Under 20 Matildas, subsequently joining the NTC program," Jaric said.
"He loved my experience, but he identified a gap in taking a step back from head coaching and allowing myself to be an assistant in a more development-focused environment."
Jaric (right) during his time in charge of Adelaide University's WNPL side. (Image: Adam Butler/80kms)
During his time as an assistant coach with the NTC squad, Jaric also developed his craft further by taking on the role of Opposition Analyst in Adelaide United's A-League Women program. The COVID-19-affected seasons meant Jaric played a more prominent role in away trips when travelling staff were limited and got to work closely with coaches such as Lastella, Adrian Stenta, Joe Mullen, and Michael Cooper.
"From a coaching perspective, it developed me significantly, but also from an analysis perspective, it was an invaluable experience, one that allowed me to take a step back and view the game in a different way alongside another analyst in the team, Bodi Love, who was also part of my staff at Adelaide University," he said.
"We developed an analyst network, not just in Australia but globally, which allowed us to do things such as visit Arsenal Women and Brighton Women last year and see what best practice looked like. That experience really gave me that spark of motivation to jump back into head coaching."
Jaric (back row, first from right) with Adelaide United's A-League Women side for an away trip. (Image: Kosta Jaric Instagram)
That hunger to return to a head coaching role was satisfied when West Adelaide approached Jaric towards the end of the 2023 WNPL SA season, sounding out his interest in their vacancy.
Despite the talent on West Adelaide's list, the 2022 treble winners were rocked by a tough 2023 season. When approached by the club's Chairman, John Tsianos, Jaric had one simple question for him: 'What do you view as success at West Adelaide?'
The answer made accepting the job a no-brainer.
"He said that the only key attribute for the team in 2024 was for the players to enjoy their football again. I viewed that as a powerful message and a club that identified that their culture had to come above all else and as an opportunity too good to refuse," Jaric said.
You only need to check West Adelaide Women's Instagram account to realise the fun is back at Kilburn. Players regularly feature in comedic videos that range from player-of-the-match interviews to asking each other popular, controversial questions, with topics ranging from whether pineapple belongs on pizza to describing their head coach using one word.
While many coaches may feel uncomfortable about the situation, Jaric has joined in, feeling it is an invaluable part of the club's culture.
"It seems I am becoming more and more involved with these posts!" Jaric joked.
"It's fantastic because it shows that the players are engaging in different ways; they really view it as a way to communicate with the people outside of our group and outside of our club about what our culture represents. It is another way of measuring that the girls are enjoying themselves and their football again."
On the field, Jaric planned on blending West Adelaide's vast experience with young, up-and-coming talent, something he has shown to be a priority during his coaching career.
The old guard of Nicole Blackett, Georgia Macri, Laura Johns, and Racheal Quigley had blended seamlessly with the likes of Lily Di Cola, Gemma MacFarlane, Victoria Costanzo, and Ellie Sparrow, before she suffered a season-ending injury, making West Adelaide a formidable opponent.
"While in the past the club has relied on big names to come in and do the job, I think we have shown this year that blending those real 'blue and white' players with those new, young, hungry players who are desperate for success has proven to be a formula that works," Jaric explained.
READ MORE ON FPF
YOUNG MATILDAS: Young Matildas outclassed in horrific World Cup showing
JOSH SMITH: Sparking South Australia's Pacific football boom
With a diverse group of players, Jaric had to work across the board to communicate his desire for a heavy-pressing, adventurous style. While he had to convince the older players that an aggressive press can be combined with defensive stability, his young players had to be encouraged to play with freedom and take more risks in the final third.
The results have spoken for themselves, with Hellas claiming both the Premiership and WNPL & WSL Cup.
"The results have been exceptional. I didn't really set out with a goal in mind of trophies to win, but the fact that we have gone on to win the majority of our games this season, along with the Minor Premiership and the Cup, and to have so many clean sheets has blown me away as a coach.
"It has also been a great learning experience because I think, 'How can I keep this group grounded every week?' It is a real testament to the rest of my coaching staff that we've also created an environment where we celebrate our wins, but the next time we see each other, we are already looking forward to the next match."
West Adelaide captain Nicole Blackett celebrates a goal in the WNPL & WSL Cup Final against Sturt Lions. (Image: Pagonis Photography)
With West Adelaide a game away from emulating their 2022 treble, many coaches would opt to ignore the finish line. Yet, Jaric feels that it provides motivation for players who were part of the club during that period and newcomers who want to experience that success.
"It is a tricky balance, but motivating them with the reward that lies ahead is important, so we have discussed the one trophy left to win. However, one of the big things we have discussed this season is humility and being humble in the right moments.
"The great thing with the girls is that even though we have had success already this season, they have not taken that as an automatic guarantee that success continues to come. The work rate at the moment on the training pitch is one of the highest I have seen all season, which shows that they're really hungry for it and know that they still need to work, even if they've done 95% of the job already this season."
West Adelaide takes on Salisbury Inter on Sunday 15th of September in the WNPL SA Grand Final.
Enjoy coverage of local football in Australia? Click here and read more of Front Page Football's NPL coverage across the country!
Comments