MORRIS Iemma was once NSW premier and spent 17 years in state politics. He quit the state's top job on September 3, 2008, and now wants to become a premier cricket coach.
Iemma, 54, of Beverly Hills, coaches several junior teams at Kingsgrove Cricket Club in the St George Cricket Association.
He is the St George association's Moore Shield under-14s coach which last season won the Sydney competition and NSW premiership undefeated.
Iemma said together with his wife, Santini, their interest in cricket happened following their children, Clara, 16, Matthew, 15, Luca, 12, Joshua 12, who play the game.
Matthew plays fifth grade at St George and Clara is a women's representative player.
Back in 2008 Kingsgrove Cricket Club officials asked the former premier to volunteer.
"When your kids are playing in teams you naturally get asked to help out as you are their parents," he said.
Iemma holds the level one and level two coaching accreditation with Cricket NSW.
"Coaching is a lot harder than politics," Iemma quipped.
"Coaching is something that I have to come enjoy and to see boys and girls learning the skills of the game and having fun playing cricket."
Iemma went to Narwee Boys' High School where he took up AFL.
"I played AFL at school and on weekends with Penshurst Panthers at Olds Park and I grew up following Collingwood," he said.
"I always followed Collingwood and the late Tommy Hafey was the Magpies' coach at the time. I was a big admirer of him.
"I have read Hafey's and Bennett's books and I have great admiration for them."
Two Kingsgrove junior players coached by Iemma are, Harsh Sridokar, 10, and Catherine Wilson, 12.
Catherine, who bowls, bat and keeps, has been fast-tracked this season into the St George-Sutherland Women's Cricket Club Brewer Shield under-17s team.
He said Harsh is a promising batsman who also bowls leg-spin.
