Steve McCormack
Encyclopedia
Steve McCormack is the former head coach of National League One club Widnes
. He is currently head coach of Scotland RL and Swinton
His first coaching appointment had been at Salford
, who made him the youngest coach in Super League at the age of just 28 in 2001 but was sacked just 10 months later.
He won NL1 Coach of the Year having twice taken Whitehaven
to the Grand Final but losing to Leigh
(2004) and Castleford
(2005) to miss out on promotion to Super League.
He was appointed coach of Widnes
after the club's relegation from Super League in 2005 and the subsequent departure of Frank Endacott
. In his first season with Widnes he led the club to the National League One grand final where they subsequently lost to Hull Kingston Rovers
.
During the 2007 season McCormack won the Northern Rail Cup beating his old side Whitehaven
56-6 in the final at Blackpool. McCormack was soon after rewarded with a new 2 year contract keeping him with Widnes until the end of the 2009 season.
Widnes failed to gain promotion to Super League losing out to Castleford
in the 2007 NL1 Grand Final. In October 2007 Steve McCormack left Widnes and joined Hull Kingston Rovers
as assistant coach to Justin Morgan
. However, nine days later after leaving Widnes
, Steve returned as head coach with a new set up after Steve O'Connor
took over the club. In February 2009 Steve parted company with Widnes and this is thought to have happened after a poor performance against Oldham
. He was taken over by assistant John Stankevitch
in a caretaker role.
He has named his Scotland training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
He has named his Scotland squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
On 22nd October 2009 he was named as the new head coach of Barrow
.
McCormack resigned from Barrow at the end of the 2010 season to take up a teaching job in Wigan
but wished to continue to be involved in Rugby League on a part time basis. Therefore on September 26th 2010 it was confirmed that he had accepted the offer from Swinton
to become their new head coach for the 2011 season.
Steve McCormack is the son of the former rugby league footballer for Oldham, Jim McCormack.
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
. He is currently head coach of Scotland RL and Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
His first coaching appointment had been at Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
, who made him the youngest coach in Super League at the age of just 28 in 2001 but was sacked just 10 months later.
He won NL1 Coach of the Year having twice taken Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
to the Grand Final but losing to Leigh
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
(2004) and Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
(2005) to miss out on promotion to Super League.
He was appointed coach of Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
after the club's relegation from Super League in 2005 and the subsequent departure of Frank Endacott
Frank Endacott
Frank Morris Endacott, ONZM is a retired rugby league player and coach from New Zealand. His son, Shane, also played rugby league.-Playing career:Endacott played for Addington and Hornby in the Canterbury Rugby League competition...
. In his first season with Widnes he led the club to the National League One grand final where they subsequently lost to Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
.
During the 2007 season McCormack won the Northern Rail Cup beating his old side Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
56-6 in the final at Blackpool. McCormack was soon after rewarded with a new 2 year contract keeping him with Widnes until the end of the 2009 season.
Widnes failed to gain promotion to Super League losing out to Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
in the 2007 NL1 Grand Final. In October 2007 Steve McCormack left Widnes and joined Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
as assistant coach to Justin Morgan
Justin Morgan
Justin Morgan was a U.S. horse breeder and composer.He was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and by 1788 had settled in Vermont. In addition to being a horse breeder and farmer, he was a teacher of singing; in that capacity he traveled considerably throughout the northeastern states...
. However, nine days later after leaving Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
, Steve returned as head coach with a new set up after Steve O'Connor
Steve O'Connor
Steve O'Connor played 290 games in the Australian National Soccer League and represented Australia in the national team with 44 Socceroo appearances.-Background:...
took over the club. In February 2009 Steve parted company with Widnes and this is thought to have happened after a poor performance against Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
. He was taken over by assistant John Stankevitch
John Stankevitch
John Stankevitch is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s. He played for St Helens and Widnes in the European Super League as a and as a . Since retiring through a serious shoulder and neck injury, he has had two stints at Widnes as assistant and a head coach role at Doncaster...
in a caretaker role.
He has named his Scotland training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
He has named his Scotland squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
On 22nd October 2009 he was named as the new head coach of Barrow
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
.
McCormack resigned from Barrow at the end of the 2010 season to take up a teaching job in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
but wished to continue to be involved in Rugby League on a part time basis. Therefore on September 26th 2010 it was confirmed that he had accepted the offer from Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
to become their new head coach for the 2011 season.
Steve McCormack is the son of the former rugby league footballer for Oldham, Jim McCormack.