MITTA United is on the hunt for a senior coach after Simon Hillier stepped down in the wake of its grand final loss to Thurgoona.
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The former Henty player was one of the Mountain Men's best players this season, playing a starring role through the midfield as Mitta rebounded from last year's injury-plagued campaign, in which the club finished ninth on the ladder.
Despite winning the minor premiership after finishing two games clear of eventual premiers Thurgoona, Hillier said time constraints outside of football meant he would need to take a step back.
“Commitments at work are increasing for me at the moment, that's likely to continue through to next year,” he said.
“I just won't have the time to do the job.”
Hillier said his first year coaching a senior football side had been a learning experience he would remember.
“This was my first year coaching, so I wasn't really sure what to expect coming into it,” he said.
“I did enjoy it though.
“I won't rule out coaching somewhere again in the future, but I think it would have to be the right job.
“At lot of work goes into it, I probably underestimated it a bit.
“But it was a great experience in the top job this year, Mitta is a great club with a lot of good people.”
Hillier finished the season nursing a broken finger and some bone bruising in his knee.
“I'm always a bit bruised and battered at this time of year,” he said.
“These sorts of things take a while to recover from, it'll be a couple more weeks before my finger fully recovers.”
Though his first season with the Mountain Men was a success, Hillier said he was still unsure if he would remain in the hills next season.
The Mountain Men were one of the strongest teams in a tough competition with Hillier at the helm in 2016.
They join a number of clubs on the lookout for a senior coach in 2017.
Tallangatta has lost premiership mentor Zac Fulford after he was lured back to Wodonga as the successor to Dean Harding.
Fulford will take the senior reins in 2018.
Rutherglen is also in search for a co-coach to assist Karl Jacka.
Reigning premier Thurgoona is also believed to be considering a coaching shake-up.
League best-and-fairest Jayden Kotzur could co-coach alongside either Jamarl O’Sullivan or Peter Copley.
