Nashville announce new coach

It is with extreme pleasure that I formally announce the appointment of Marty Thompson to take over the role of Head Coach for the Nashville Kangaroos Football Team. I first met Marty when he was watching us play in the 2006 Australian Festival in Centennial Park. He hed just arrived in Nashville and was amazed that we had a squad of 20 guys and only three Aussies playing his beloved sport so far from his homeland. He wanted some merchandise to show his mates back in Oz, but we were all out. So, I traded him my Kangaroos ball cap for a promise that he would wear it at the 2006 Grand Final (which he did!) and that he contact me in the early spring and get involved with the club.

Marty is an owner of Australian Airbrushed Tattoos, and part of the time he organizes cruises. These duties kept him busy during the first part of this year, with his travel schedule preventing him from committing to the club, but that schedule changed and he has been at every match but one since June. He also started coming out to training with us, and it sure did not take long for him to catch ROO FEVER. He has been helping the coaching staff with his vast knowledge and experience not only at our games, but on the training track as well.

Marty will take over as our full-time head coach through the remainder of 2007 and is already thinking ahead to making the team greater in 2008. The entire team is buzzing with excitement (even us old fossils!) and we are learning and getting better and better every week.

Come out to our remaining home games, starting this Saturday at 1 pm against Baton Rouge, Saturday August 25th at 3:30 against Louisville, and September 8th at 3:30 against Milwaukee. Stop by and give Marty a warm welcome, Nashville-style, with a hearty "G-day, Mate!". Marty is easy to recognize: he still wears the blue denim Kangaroo ball cap and carries his clipboard with him everywhere!

Here is a brief bio of what marty brings to the Roos:

Full Name: Martin (Marty) Thompson
Nickname: "Thommo"
Born: Adelaide South Australia
Moved to Nashville August 2006

Marty comes from a family with a rich tradition in footy, having watched his first league game of football at the tender age of five, and has had an affiliation with the SANFL "West Torrens Eagles" ever since. Marty has also been a great supporter of the AFL "Adelaide Crows" (we will forgive him for that one!).

Being influenced by Hall of Fame players such as the Great Bob Hank, Bruce Lindsey and his Idol and friend three-time Magarey Medal winner Lindsey Head, Marty has had a relentless passion for what he insists is the best spectator sport in the world.

Marty played for Rostrevor College during his junior years starting for the under 18 squad, then went on to the A grade SAFA team "Burnside Kensington" under the influence of coach "Russell Watson", and later by Brian Ferrari playing in a memorable Grand Final. Later in his football years Marty played in the Amateur League and played for the ROCS.

After his playing days Marty continued with his involvement and umpired and coached juniors in the league over the years and later was appointed Marketing Manager with the West Torrens Football club where his legions and loyalty lied.

Marty comes to the Nashville Kangaroos with passion and a background as a player or being actively involved around the game for over 40 years. He quotes, "I have a good understanding for the game of Australian Rules Football that stems from passion and the realization that the combination of the development of skills, determination, and camaraderie as a team is the essence for success in any Australian Rules Football Club. I believe developing and instilling these principles with new recruits of Americans in tandem with the experienced ex-pat Australians will lead to success in the near future for the Nashville Kangaroos and I am proud to contribute as the coach."

- Jeff Persson
(975)