Football Coaching Life Podcast Recap: Episode Four with Heather Garriock

Staff Writer

Heather Garriock was the special guest on episode four of Football Coaches Australia’s ‘The Football Coaching Life’ podcast.

Garriock is perhaps best known for the 130 caps she won representing the Matildas and her expert commentary on Optus Sport. Her international career spread over 13 years and included three FIFA Women’s World Cups, two Olympic Games and three Asian Cups, culminating with a win in China during 2010.

Heather is a member of the Football Australia Starting XI and is the FCA Vice President. She was Head Coach of Sydney United FC (NPL) 2014-17, Canberra United FC (W-League) 2017-20 and was also a Matildas Assistant Coach in 2017.

Speaking with Gary Cole, Garriock details how she initially got into coaching, her coaching mentors, how her coaching has changed over the journey, the influence coaches from other sports had on her career, her most enjoyable moments and much more.

Key Quotes in Episode Three

Why she coaches

“That’s the question I used to ask myself. It’s a hard gig. It’s a lonely job…but you coach because you want to pass on, give back, help, inspire and do what some of your past coaches did for me.”

The influence Tom Sermanni had on her career

“That man has taught me so much about life on and off the field…he just knew what made me tick.”

On the 2010 Asian Cup final and what Tom Sermanni told the girls before the penalty shootout

“It is absolutely pissing down with rain. We’re about to go into a penalty shootout, the first silverware for football in Australia at a major tournament. Tom said ‘we better hurry up with the penalty shootout, we’ve got wheel of fortune back on at the hotel at about 7pm. So make sure you do a good job guys, so I can get back and watch that.’

On her 3 years coaching at Canberra United

“It was a tough period, but I think I needed to go through that. I hadn’t in my (playing) career had to go through many obstacles. But that was a big learning curve.”

A valuable lesson she learned during her coaching career

“Emotional stability. You didn’t have to have it as a player in my opinion, if you wanted to be emotional you could do that on the field and almost get away with it.”

Final piece of wisdom for coaches

“You never know everything…you can learn from everybody.”

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Inside GIS’ New Executive Edge Program Driving Sport’s Future Leaders

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

A new executive education program designed to shape the next generation of sports industry leaders is set to launch in June 2026, offering participants a rare blend of academic insight and real-world application at the highest level of global sport.

The Executive Edge in Sport, delivered by Global Institute of Sport (GIS) in partnership with Rotman School of Management Executive Programs, will provide current and aspiring leaders with the tools needed to navigate an increasingly complex and fast-evolving sports landscape.

The seven-week program, Sports Leadership Essentials, is delivered primarily online, offering a flexible and immersive learning experience for professionals worldwide. It is tailored for individuals seeking to strengthen their leadership capabilities within sport, as well as those aiming to transition into senior roles. This includes athletes navigating their post-playing careers.

Led by Sharona Friedman, President and CEO of GIS, and Walid Hejazi, Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at Rotman, the course combines academic rigour with industry relevance. Participants will engage with key topics shaping modern sport, including leadership and strategy, governance and ethics, finance and revenue models, marketing and fan engagement, event operations, and the growing influence of AI and emerging technologies.

The program also features exclusive masterclasses with senior figures from across the global sports industry, alongside sessions led by leading academics and practitioners from the Rotman School.

For those seeking a more hands-on experience, participants can opt into the Sports Leadership Lab. This is a four-day, in-person summit held at BMO Field in Toronto. Delivered in collaboration with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the lab provides behind-the-scenes access to elite sport operations, bridging theory with practice in a live stadium environment.

As the global sports industry continues to expand and evolve, The Executive Edge in Sport positions itself as a critical pathway for leaders looking to stay ahead. It provides students with the knowledge, network, and perspective required to lead with impact.

Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

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