Andrew Ogborne Steps Down as Head Coach
Posted on March 1, 2020
At the recent Season Awards function, club stalwart Andrew Ogborne announced that he was standing aside as Head Coach of the Sydney Uni Lions. This marks the end of an era for the club dating back to its formation in 1984.
Ogborne was the Lions’ first quarterback, compiling a career record of 46-4-2 (0.904) and leading the team to victory in his last 36 straight games and undefeated GNSW championship seasons in 1985, 1986 and 1995. Ogborne was named as the Lions’ Offensive Franchise Player on the 25th anniversary of GNSW and inducted into the inaugural class of the GNSW Hall of Fame in 2002.
As Head Coach of the Lions, Ogborne amassed a record of 173-31-2 (0.845) and coached the Lions to 9 Waratah Bowl victories (1992, 1995, 2012-2018). This was done in two terms as Head Coach – first, after retiring as a player, from 1988 to 1996, and then in a second stint from 2012 to 2019. In between these tenures, Ogborne served on the Lions’ coaching staff, primarily as defensive co-ordinator, for the Lions’ Waratah Bowl victories in 2003-6 and 2009-10. Ogborne retires holding the record for career coaching wins.
Ogborne also founded the Sydney Uni Cubs in 1994 and coached the Cubs to a record of 22-2-2 (0.885) and GNSW championships in 1994, 1995 and 1996, before returning as a defensive assistant coach for the Cubs’ most recent GNSW championship in 2009.
Altogether, this means that Ogborne has played and coached for Sydney Uni teams that won 17 Waratah Bowls and a total of 21 GNSW championships.
When asked for highlights of his coaching career, Ogborne said “winning the first National Club Championship Game against the Gold Coast Stingrays in 2013 was a major highlight and a just reward for a Lions team on a 99 game winning streak. But I was fortunate to be a part of many great teams. On defence, the 2004 Lions allowed only 2 touchdowns in an 11 game regular season. On offence, the 2015 Lions scored an average of 62.5 points per game, a GNSW record, and did it not with imports but with skill position players who had come up through the ranks of our colts program – Kiernan Dorney, Alex Watson, Sam Darcy, Harry Granger. As a head coach, I was assisted by many fine coaches and supported by two incredible club Presidents in Liam Erby and James Gifford. But the real highlight has been working with the players, who committed to play hard, play fast, play smart – play Lions football – and who achieved unparalleled success in the process.”
The club would like to thank Andrew for his amazing effort and contribution to the club.
