No rest for Alastair Clarkson as he heads to America
Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has wasted no time in setting himself up for the next chapter in his life, arriving in America on the weekend to begin a stint of professional development that will make him the most highly sought after coach in Australia from 2023 onwards.
The 53-year-old, who finished up at the Hawks in August after 17 years building the club into one of the competition’s powerhouses, has landed in California to spend time at professional sporting organisations, explore business interests and undertake study opportunities.
Alastair Clarkson is in the US as he looks to broaden his coaching experience.Credit:Getty Images
He flew out last week under existing rules that allow people to leave the country for business purposes as long as they are prepared to accept the lack of certainty surrounding when they will be able to re-enter.
Clarkson’s manager James Henderson confirmed the master coach had begun his travels just weeks after politely declining Carlton’s last-minute bid to reconsider when former Geelong CEO Brian Cook contacted him after being appointed as the Blues’ CEO.
“‘Clarko’ is now in the US and has hit the ground running on a series of opportunities in and out of sport. He is also locking in his education program in the coming week. He’s going to be very busy, that’s for sure, but what [else] would you expect,” Henderson said.
It will be his first break from the game at AFL or state league level for at least 30 years. He worked as a teacher before becoming a coach in the VFL, SANFL then AFL.
Clarkson promised to take a breather from coaching after considering opportunities to take up vacancies at Carlton and Collingwood. He finished up at the Hawks at the end of the season when the club and Clarkson agreed that a proposed succession plan to hand over the coaching reins to Sam Mitchell would not work.
He told AFL360 he would explore business opportunities and spend time with family and friends in 2022, re-energising for the future.
“I need a spell. I’ve only got two gears and that is flat out or stop, and I am just not ready to go flat again right now,” Clarkson said.
Hawthorn paid Clarkson about $900,000 to honour the final year of his contract that was due to expire at the end of 2022 and will carry the sunk cost in their football department soft cap for the next two seasons.
He is regarded as the best coach in the modern era, having won four flags with the Hawks and being an innovator in the game, with his thirst for knowledge unmatched.
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