Coaching and staff roles open with Australia's 2027 American football tackle teams
American Football Australia (AFA) has opened staff and coaching expressions of interest for the 2027 National Tackle Campaign, covering Australia's U16, U18 and Men's tackle teams.
Successful applicants will work with the national program through to the 2027 Festival of Football on the Gold Coast, where Australia's teams meet New Zealand in test matches on Saturday 10 July. Applications close on Tuesday 1 December 2026.
Coaches can apply across five tiers covering every position group on the field, with coordinators appointed first to help shape the positional staff beneath them:
Pathways Coaches: the entry tier, rotating across position groups, running drills under direction and learning the national standard
Dedicated Pathways Coaches: work within a defined position group under a named mentor, with a formal review at the end of camp
Assistant Positional Coaches: support a Positional Coach with installs, drill design, film preparation and individual player development
Positional Coaches: lead a position group end to end, covering technique standards, installs, player evaluation and depth-chart input
Coordinators (Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams): lead a whole unit, owning the scheme, game plan, practice script and positional staff
The Pathways tier gives developing coaches experience at international level, where Tristan O'Neill from Melbourne and Brayden TiiTii from Sydney were named Pathway Coaches of the Tournament.
National support staff are just as central to the program, with each role carrying responsibility alongside the coaches throughout the campaign.
AFA is appointing:
Strength and Conditioning Coaches: run warm-ups, conditioning, recovery and physical testing
Data and Analytics Coaches: manage film, scouting reports and game-day data for the coordinators
Team Managers: handle travel, accommodation, scheduling and program administration
Inventory and Equipment Managers: manage kit, helmet fitting and setup for every session
Team Medics and Physios: lead injury management, concussion protocols and rehabilitation
Player Engagement Managers: oversee player wellbeing, onboarding and squad culture
Selection runs in two stages, with all applicants hearing back in early January 2027:
Expression of interest: applicants submit the online form by Tuesday 1 December 2026
Interview: shortlisted applicants are invited to an informal interview, with coaching applicants also completing a film review
All roles are volunteer positions, with every applicant required to:
be aged 18 or over
hold a current Working With Children Check
meet AFA accreditation requirements, including any courses set by AFA
Following the reappointment of Mitch Woellner as head coach of the junior teams and Pete Breuer as head coach of the men's team for 2027, appointed staff will work across the following commitments.
Gold Coast, Saturday 2 to Sunday 11 July 2027:
National Camp: Saturday 3 to Friday 9 July (Coach’s required July 2)
Test matches against New Zealand: Saturday 10 July
Team travel home: Sunday 11 July
Online:
April / July 2027: remote sessions ahead of the Gold Coast camp
Applicants will receive further detail on all commitments through the application process.
Speaking on the national coaching and staff pathways, Wade Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of American Football Australia, said:
“Our partnership with New Zealand creates fantastic international opportunities for players, coaches, officials and volunteers in both countries. “Our clubs and states have done a great job building the pathway, and that will continue to grow.”
Mitch Woellner, Head Coach of the Junior Australian Teams, said:
“We evaluate the daily example a coach sets. We want teachers who love the details of technique and who approach every day with urgency to establish positive habits and a focus on what we can control. A coach must possess a genuine desire to understand what each player can do, find ways to work with them and build relationships that align the player's goals with the program's."
Player submissions through the Digital Talent ID platform will follow, with details to be announced shortly.
2027 NATIONAL TACKLE CAMPAIGN: STAFF AND COACHING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Programs: Juniors (U16 and U18) and Men's
Coaching roles: Pathways Coach to Coordinator, across every position group
Support staff roles: strength and conditioning, data and analytics, team management, inventory and equipment, medical and physiotherapy, and player engagement
Open to: applicants aged 18 and over with a current Working With Children Check
Closes: Tuesday 1 December 2026
Outcome: successful applicants notified in early January 2027
All roles are volunteer positions
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For more information on American football in Australia, visit americanfootball.org.au
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Media contact
Brock Bentley Chief Marketing Officer, American Football Australia
American Football Australia
American Football Australia (AFA) is the national governing body for American Football in Australia, recognised by the Australian Sports Commission and a full member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). AFA is responsible for national competitions and the development of Australian national teams across both tackle and flag football.
