Draft:Joe Coan

St Helens
Whilst never playing rugby league professionally, Joe was the man behind St Helens four trophy success in the 1965-66 campaign. He was a rugby union enthusiast from Cumbria.

A real sports enthusiast and a competitive swimmer to a high standard, Joe was asked to take training sessions with the Saints’ players during the 1962-63 winter ‘lockdown’ at the indoor gym at West Park and subsequently was offered the job as Head Coach after a spell helping the A team at Knowsley Road. He replaced the previous incumbent, Stan McCormick.

Joe’s emphasis on physical fitness certainly paid dividends, as the team embarked upon a long unbeaten run of 21 matches during the 1964-65 campaign, including a 12-4 victory against Swinton in the Lancashire Cup final.

Saints won the Lancashire League trophy in 1964 and won the League Leader’s Bowl by a four-point margin from second-placed Wigan. Under Joe Coan's coaching the St Helens team went on to win 4 trophies in the 1965-66 season.

Huyton
Joe went on to coach at Huyton in the early 1970s, when he replaced Jack Broome.

Wigan
From Jan 1975 he was head-coach of Wigan until resigning in Sep 1976; the board accepted his resignation "with reluctance". He was superseded by former Saints’ legend Vince Karalius, who was himself later sacked in Sep 1979.

Personal life
Joe Coan attended Whitehaven Grammar School, Cumbria and he spent time in Cyprus during his National Service with the Border Regiment, before undertaking teacher training at Carnegie and Strawberry Hill College at Twickenham. He began his teaching career in St Helens, where he took up an appointment teaching Physical Education and Geography at West Park Grammar School, where he became Head of PE.

One of his many pupils over the years was Eamonn McManus.

Joe married his wife, Mary on Boxing Day 1958 and they have two children, Nicky and Chris, together with five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

A keen golfer, who was at one time Captain of Grange Park Golf Club [1986], Joe went on to become a Deputy Headteacher at a primary school in Birkenhead before taking over as Head at Holy Ghost Primary School in Netherton. After his retirement, he and Mary stayed in St Helens, then moved to Christleton, Chester, before eventually moving to Bowdon, Altrincham.