ASHLEY Mills is the new coach of VAFA Division 3 2011 undefeated premier team Prahran Assumption for season 2012.
Mills, 31, beat a select field of contenders for the post vacated by Leigh Stafford who stood down to concentrate on his financial planning business.
A varied playing and coaching career and a highly professional dossier presented at his interview made Mills the unanimous choice of club coaching panel Fab Maya, Kevin Matherson, Paul Taylor and Jesse Silver.
Sidelined as a player in 2011 because of a shoulder injury, Mills coached Therry Penola Under 19s from three wins in 2010 at Under 18 level to a grand final berth.
Highlights of Mills’ playing career included being a member of Therry Penola’s C Grade 2000 premiership team, a best and fairest at North Coburg Saints in 1998, captaining North Coburg for 4 seasons, captaining the Essendon District Football League B-Grade representative team in 2008 and spending one season with VFL Coburg in 1999.
His coaching CV began as a playing assistant coach with North Coburg from 2004-06, North Coburg senior coach in 2007, a playing assistant coach at Northern Saints (nee North Coburg) in 2008 and playing assistant coach at Therry Penola in 2009-10.
Mills' assistant will be Zane Moylan, 28, who also worked with him at Therry Penola last season.Zane may resume his playing career depending on his progress from knee surgery.
Mills lists his strengths as being highly organised, a good verbal and written communicator with a professional approach to the game.
He bases his coaching philosophy on complete commitment to perpetual improvement – for players, coaches and in turn the team.
His formula for success is centred on continual daily improvement, sustained effort and individual discipline, leading to individual development on and off field, therein leading to ultimate team success.
A teacher at Penola Catholic College and winner of the 2011 Hume City Council’s Teacher’s Scholarship in the Secondary School category, Mills has quickly made an impact in pre-season sessions.
