Dean Cox is the new Sydney Swans coach as John Longmire quit after second grand final loss in three years

Dean Cox is the new coach of the Sydney Swans following John Longmire’s shock decision to quit in the wake of a second AFL grand final loss in the past three seasons.

The exit of Longmire, 53, was confirmed by the Swans with Cox, his senior assistant, taking the reins having knocked back an offer to coach West Coast.

Longmire, who has coached the Swans for the past 15 seasons and was contracted through to the end of 2025, said he was “wrestling” with the decision but content to hand over the role to Cox.

“I had been wrestling with the decision about whether I would coach on for 2025 since about midway through last season,” he said

“The team was travelling really well – in fact this year as good as we ever have. However, even during this year with the team’s superb on-field form and our football department working really well in support, I felt in myself that my time as coach of the club was coming towards a close. After such a long time coaching, the week in, week out, really does start to wear on you. I feel that I need to step back from coaching to rest, reflect and regenerate.

““I’ve always been interested in the strategic areas of the club’s growth, and as time has gone on, I’ve felt myself being drawn more and more towards this aspect. After a bit more time to rest, I’m looking forward to helping the club on its path of continuous improvement both on and off the field.

“I knew Dean was ready and it just made sense to hand over. It would have been nice to finish with a flag, as I did as a player, but that wasn’t to be.

“I am genuinely excited for Dean. He will be a fantastic coach and will give the role a new lease of life and take it to another level.”

The news comes with players back in pre-season training after the Swans were smashed by the Brisbane Lions in the AFL grand final.

It was a fourth grand final loss for Longmire as coach, going down in 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2024.

Longmire also tasted premiership success in 2012 among his 194 wins in 334 games in charge after taking over from Paul Roos.

Longmire was contracted for the 2025 season but in the wake of the grand final humiliation, having finished the season on top of the ladder, questions were being asked about his ongoing tenure.

Pridham said Longmire had flagged an intent to step down either after 2024 or at the end of his contract due to the “taxing” nature of the role.

The loss to the Lions fast-tracked his decision and he will finish as the longest serving coach in Sydney’s history.

“John has been more than just a great senior men’s team coach for us. He has always had a whole-of-club outlook and has been instrumental in our ability to consistently compete at the highest level over the past two decades, in what is a highly competitive and equalised competition.

Longmire was contracted for the 2025 season but in the wake of the grand final humiliation, having finished the season on top of the ladder, questions were being asked about his ongoing tenure.

Pridham said Longmire had flagged an intent to step down either after 2024 or at the end of his contract due to the “taxing” nature of the role.

The loss to the Lions fast-tracked his decision and he will finish as the longest serving coach in Sydney’s history.

“John has been more than just a great senior men’s team coach for us. He has always had a whole-of-club outlook and has been instrumental in our ability to consistently compete at the highest level over the past two decades, in what is a highly competitive and equalised competition.

“He is the longest serving coach in our club’s proud 150-year history. John coached us in 316 games over 14 seasons, making the finals in all but two seasons, reaching five grand finals and of course coaching us to the 2012 Premiership.

“John advised us some 18 months ago that he felt within himself that his time as senior coach would likely end at the completion of either season 2024 or 2025. The process that we have followed after John advising us of his longer-term intentions reflects our preferred approach of managed and seamless succession.

“Being a senior AFL coach is a taxing role and we greatly respect John’s desire to play an alternative, but important, part in our club’s future. His decision to step down a year earlier than had been envisaged was not an easy one for him. However, I deeply respect his reasons and the way he has worked with the club to prepare Dean as his successor, particularly over the past 18 months.”