Everton appoint duo as Assistant Heads of Coaching

EVERTON have appointed Tom Kearney and Dan Copnall as their new Assistant Heads of Coaching as they continue to revamp their Academy.

Kearney, a former Everton youth player, has been coaching in the their Academy for more than a decade. In his new role he will focus on coaching provision in the Youth Development Phase (YDP, 12s to 16s).

Copnall joins from the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC), where he had been a Coaching Auditor for three-and-a-half years, and will focus on the Foundation Phase (9s to 12s).

Both will report into Carl Darlington, who joined Everton in October from the Football Association of Wales to become their Head of Coaching. As well as his overall responsibility of overseeing coach education and coaching in the Academy, Darlington will focus specifically on the Professional Development Phase (PDP).

There have been a number of new Academy appointments since Kevin Thelwell was appointed as Everton's Sporting Director last March. Gareth Prosser was appointed as Academy Manager in June 2022, replacing the long-serving David Unsworth. He had previously been General Manager of PGAAC, where he managed Copnall.

And last week TGG revealed that former MK Dons manager Dan Micciche had been appointed Player Development Lead Coach, working with the PDP phase.