Ken Gentle | |
Coachyear1start: | 1984 |
Coachyear1end: | 85 |
Coachteam1: | Western Suburbs |
Coachgames1: | 48 |
Coachwins1: | 6 |
Coachdraws1: | 2 |
Coachlosses1: | 40 |
Ken Gentle is an Australian former rugby league coach for the Western Suburbs Magpies.[1]
Gentle served his coaching apprenticeship with Kiama, which he guided to a premiership in 1969.[2] He had charge of Canterbury-Bankstown junior sides during the 1970s, culminating in SG Ball and Jersey Flegg premierships in 1978 and 1979 respectively. Following a stint with the Western Suburbs under-23s and reserves, Gentle returned to Canterbury in 1983, to coach their reserves team.[3]
At the end of the 1983 season, Gentle took over from Len Stacker as first-grade coach of Western Suburbs. He was appointed during a tumultuous pre-season, losing several of his players to rival clubs as the result of a decision by the NSWRL, later reversed, to omit them from the competition. Before they were re-admitted, Gentle had been set to return to Canterbury's reserves. He led the Magpies for two seasons, then in 1986 was replaced by Steve Ghosn.[3]
Gentle's son Peter Gentle played for St. George and was an acting head coach of the Brisbane Broncos.[4]