A passionate New South Welshman who rode the emotional rollercoaster of every tight defeat this season, Coleman said sustained criticism of the team was tough to take.
“I’ve got to admit, the outside noise was harder than I expected. I’m probably not thick-skinned enough,” Coleman said.
“With mounting pressure, I didn’t quit. I’m definitely more resilient and more thick-skinned off the back of it. I’m genuinely proud that I stuck it out and went to the end.
“For me, this is more than a job. It becomes all encompassing … sometimes unfortunately to the detriment of other things in your life.”
Rugby Australia and the Waratahs have started the process to find Coleman’s replacement with Michael Cheika, Nathan Grey, Stephen Hoiles and John Manenti emerging as potential front-runners.
Doorn was reluctant to discuss potential candidates, out of respect to Coleman, but stressed that while there was no deadline on finding a new coach, he wants a solution “sooner rather than later”.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman and NSW skipper Jake Gordon. Credit: Getty
“I’m not going to put names on it today,” Doorn said. “I don’t want to necessarily suggest that there’s one ahead of the other. We’d be welcome to all incomers. I’ve not been out there at all undermining [Coleman].”
At one stage during the media conference, emotion almost got the better of Coleman. It came when the coach recalled a conversation with his son on Monday evening, just hours after learning he’d be moving on next season.
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“We’re not proud of where we’re sitting on the ladder,” Coleman said. “I talked to my boy last night … and [said] it just hurts rugby in general when the Waratahs aren’t doing well and I was in charge of that. So yeah, I am embarrassed about that, definitely.”
When he took the job, Coleman said, he had dreamed of packed pubs in Paddington and rugby fans streaming into Allianz Stadium to watch a winning Waratahs team playing attractive rugby.
“The dreamer in me would love to come back one day, whenever, 10 years down the track, and have another shot at it as a better coach,” Coleman said.
“Although the end is a bit sour and sad, when I reflect and the emotion goes out of it, I’ll look back and it will have been an amazing three years of my life.
“I got a lot of pats on the back in year one when I did well and conversely, you’ve got to cop a lot of negative chat and blame when you don’t do well. You can’t have it both ways.
“I feel the board and the organisation have taken everything on board and they’ve made the best decision. There’s definitely no bad blood from my end. I’m not throwing any rocks on the way out. I’m really appreciative that I got the opportunity and sorry I couldn’t do better.”
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