Meet our coaches

Samantha Byrnes, Sprints Coach

Samantha Byrnes

Sprints

Samantha is Plympton’s sprint coach, an Australian Athletics Level 2 accredited coach and State Official.

Samantha began her athletics journey with Plympton in the U11s. During her three years of Little Athletics, she won the Plympton Athlete of the Year award, broke a 100m state record, and still holds five club sprinting records in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.

Samantha’s coaching focus is to create an environment where young athletes can develop their sprinting coordination, have fun, build resilience, and understand the intent behind each drill, repetition, training session, and season plan.


Steven Mugge

Throws

Steve is Plympton’s throws coach, an Australian Athletics Level 1 accredited coach and a Plympton honorary life member.

Steve’s association with Plympton goes back to when he first started in U8s, and he still has three club records in shot put and discus.

Steve’s coaching philosophy is to create a fun, safe, and inclusive environment where young athletes can develop their skills, enabling them to reach their personal best.


Jack Hodson, Long and Triple Jump Coach

Jack Hodson

Long and Triple Jump

Jack is Plympton’s Long and Triple Jumps coach and has been associated with the club from Tiny Tots through to Under 17’s and now honorary Life Member. He is currently competing for Athletics South Australia (ASA), and competes in various competitions such as the State Championships, where he placed first in 2023 in Under 17’s, and later competed at a national level in 2024.

Jack’s coaching focus is to create a safe, enjoyable and inclusive environment, where young athletes can develop their jumping techniques and skills enabling them to reach their personal best.