University of Bradford have recognised the services of Head Coach Matt Airey as part of their Sports Union awards after 10 years of service as a player and coach with the Bradford Storm Rugby League Team
Matt, who now works as a full-time School Partnership Officer for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, graduated from the University of Bradford in 2012 with a degree in International Relations and Security Studies.
A former player for the Storm, the 27-year-old took up the reigns as Head Coach of the team in September 2015 and has steadily built a new competitive culture within the squad who finished second in the BUCS North 3B Division this year behind Northumbria, losing just one game all season.
Commenting on the award Airey said, “It’s really nice to have something to show a lot of hard work over past 5 years, I really didn’t expect to get anything so it was a nice surprise.
“There’s not a lot of recognition for coaching at university level generally, so I’m pleased to have the recognition of my university to distinguish me as Coach of the Year against a lot of other good sports teams at Bradford.”
Alongside their solid year in the BUCS league competition the Storm also made the finals of the BUCS 9s competition contending with some of the best sports teams in the country and saw Storm player Shaun Flynn gets representative honours with Yorkshire Students.
Also on the resume for Matt in 2017-18 were coaching opportunities as Assistant Coach with Yorkshire Students as well as North of England Students which has been possible through a collaboration with Leeds Rhinos Foundation.
Matt has been given support from the charity to fit coaching around his full-time role as well as support for representative programmes with the use of facilities at Leeds Rugby Academy in Kirkstall.
Bradford Storm have also been made an Ambassador Club with the Rhinos through the partnership, providing matchday opportunities for the players who have visited Emerald Headingley and Magic Weekend over the past year with access to Coach Education workshops for continuing professional development.