MIGUEL Coley, the man who guided schoolboy team Jamaica College to Manning Cup and Olivier Shield glory in 2013, was yesterday announced as assistant to Reggae Boyz senior team head coach Winfried Schaefer.

In addition, Coley will head the National Under-23 group.

An elated-looking Coley, who before Jamaica College had a less fruitful stint at Norman Manley High, told reporters he is looking forward to the prospect of working with the German.

“It is a great feeling getting this appointment. It’s a challenge and I welcome it…I’m all in,” he said at yesterday’s press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) offices.

Coley is believed to have benefited from the 64-year-old Schaefer’s desire to have a relatively young coach to work alongside him.

“I’m a smart person and I think quickly. I have good human relationships and I can communicate my idea of coaching with my players easily and I think those (attributes) allowed me to be the assistant coach,” Coley said when asked what he thought gave him the edge over other more experienced coaches.

Schaefer’s former assistant Vinimore Blaine has been appointed director of Jamaica’s football.

Former senior team head coach Theodore Whitmore, who was replaced by Schaefer towards the back end of the failed Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign, is now in charge of the Under-20 side.

In another noteworthy move, Tamera Williams, the first-ever female national coach, will be assistant to Merron Gordon for the senior women’s team.

“I was actually surprised because I was so focused on working with my club team, which has contributed tremendously to my development thus far. I’m ready for this. It’s a learning process and I just want to take in all I can. I’m pleased I was given this opportunity,” said Williams, the Harbour View FC women’s coach.

The veteran coach Wendell Downswell, who has twice led the National Under-17s to the World Cup, has been named Youth Co-ordinator for male and female teams.

Andrew Edwards, who has assisted Downswell at the Under-20 level, conceded he has big shoes to fill, but he expressed an eagerness at the opportunity.

“We are always excited and happy to be of service to our country. This is just another avenue in which I can offer myself. Certainly it is going to be a big challenge. Coach Downswell has qualified for two Under-17 World Cups and replacing him now, certainly that is going to be the standard by which I will be judged.

“I’m very excited about the direction the JFF is taking. Coach Schaefer’s indication that he wants all teams to be playing in a system and having the same model of play is very important and interesting for me,” Edwards told the Jamaica Observer.

The coaching contracts will last for four years and will be subject to annual reviews.

JFF President Captain Horace Burrell, who boasted that a number of the new appointees are graduates of the JFF coaching schools, said the “unprecedented” announcement of a nearly full national coaching set-up represents the “integrated technical core to drive Jamaica’s national football programmes”.

Technical staff: Senior men’s team: Head coach –Winfried Schaefer; Assistant coach- Miguel Coley

Under-23 men’s team: Head coach — Miguel Coley; Assistant coach — Jerome Waite

Under-20 men’s team: Head coach — Theodore Whitmore; Assistant coach — Andrew Edwards

Under-17 boys’ team: Head coach — Andrew Edwards; Assistant coach — to be confirmed

Under-15 boys’ team: Head coach — Aaron Lawrence; Assistant coach- — Lamar Morgan

Senior women’s team: Head coach — Merron Gordon; Assistant coach — Tamera Williams

Under-15 girls’ team: Head coach — Xavier Gilbert; Assistant coach — to be confirmed

Goalkeeper coaches: Senior and Under-23 — Warren Barrett; All other teams — Clive Wedderburn

Physical trainer: Senior men’s, Under-23 men’s, Under-20 men’s — Andre Waugh

Director of football: Vinimore Blaine

Youth Co-ordinator: Wendell Downswell