SPORT STAFF
Matt Sheens
Director of Sport
Matt has over twenty years of industry experience, having worked within the National Rugby League and as an Investigator with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.
He is a qualified NRL International Rules Coach, Australian Strength & Conditioning Association Level 1 Coach and is the Director of the College’s Tennis Academy.
Matt has a Bachelor Applied Science Degree – Human Physiology and a Certificate IV in Massage Therapy.
Mark Torcaso
Director of Northern Football Academy
Mark is one of a select number of AFC A Licence Coaches in Australia.
He also holds an AFC Level 1 Futsal Coaching accreditation and Certificate IV Sports Management MSAAC.
Mark is the current Head Coach of the Western United Women’s Team who competes in the A League Competition. He is the former coach of Calder United SC WNPL Victoria and has spent time previously as a Goalkeeper Coach with Melbourne Victory. He is also an Alumnus of the College.
John Dorge
Director of Basketball Academy
John is a two time Olympian who’s decorated playing and coaching career spans over thirty years. He played 363 NBL Games, winning four Championships with the Brisbane Bullets and South East Melbourne Magic and is a Queensland Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
John was selected in the 1995 All NBL First Team then went on to coach successfully in New Zealand.
Brett Potter
Director of AFL Academy
Brett is an experienced Level 2 AFL Coach having worked within the Carlton Football Club as Head of their Next Generation Academy, Father-Son Academy and also with the Carlton Recruiting Team. He has been Coach and Talent ID Director with the Northern Knights Junior programs between 2008 and 2021 and is currently Head Coach of the Knights Futures (U16) Boys Squad.
Brett is currently the Director of AFL Academy and Head Coach of our Boys and Girls AFL Squads. He is also an AFL Level 2 Coach and he has AFL Level 2 Talent ID/Recruiting Accreditation.
Joel Hocking
High Performance Coach (ADP)
Joel is a highly experienced High Performance Coach and former National level Track and Field athlete. He holds postgraduate qualifications in Sport Science and has a Level 1 Australian Strength & Conditioning Coach qualification.
He has accumulated over twenty years of high performance sport experience in the AFL, with stints as High Performance Coach with Carlton, Melbourne, Essendon and Hawthorn Football Clubs.
Joel currently heads up the College’s High Performance programs.
Thomas Wilson
Director of Athletics
Thomas is a former Australian Representative and Silver Medallist at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2015 (Long Jump) and has won multiple Junior Australian and Victorian Gold medals in Long Jump, 100/200 metres and relays. He holds a Level 2 Athletics Australia Coach qualification and a Level 1 Australian Strength & Conditioning Coach accreditation.
He is the Head Sprints & Relays coach of Team Victoria’s 10-12 year old Track and Field team. Thomas is also a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Calder United Soccer Club.
In 2015, Thomas was awarded the Victorian Male Athlete of the year for Track and Field Under 18’s and has coached multiple Track and Field Premierships with Parade College and St Kevin’s College.
Mitchell Cooper
Head Coach – Cross Country
Mitchell was a highly decorated junior distance runner who represented Australia at the ISF Schools World Cross Country Championship in 2012.
He is our Head Coach for Cross Country and Distance Athletics.
Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree – Health and Physical Education.
Adriana Taranto
Assistant Director of Football – Female Pathways
Adriana is a Physical Education and Health teacher and holds the role of Assistant Director of Football – Female Pathways. Adriana is a current player with the inaugural Western United Women’s Football team that competes in the A League Competition. She was a part of the National Training Centre program as a junior and was rewarded for her talent by being selected for the Mini Matildas squad in 2014 representing Australia. She also played with Melbourne Victory in the W League and has played at both Geelong Galaxy and Calder United in the WNPL Competition.
