Joe Schmidt remains 'very bad at retiring' in Ulster role

Joe Schmidt, the former head coach of Ireland, has humorously stated that he is "very bad at retiring" from coaching, as he continues in a role with Ulster Rugby. Last involved officially with Irish rugby during the 2019 World Cup, Schmidt's decision to step back from coaching was announced a year prior. His tenure ended on a disappointing note, with a 46-14 loss to New Zealand in the quarter-finals, which he felt did not adequately represent his contributions to the sport.

Since that time, the 61-year-old has defied retirement by taking on various roles with organizations such as World Rugby, the Blues, the All Blacks, and Australia. He's now a coach development advisor at Ulster Rugby, a position described as being more about future development than current circumstances. Schmidt's flexible arrangement allows him to support coaches at all levels in the province and will involve benefits from remote work when he is not present in Belfast.

Schmidt's coaching philosophy remains centered on nurturing young talent and refining their skills. He has expressed a commitment to his coaching responsibilities, saying, "I've been involved with really good young men who are trying to improve what they deliver. I'm just a schoolteacher, and I'm just still trying to teach people as best I can."

Despite previous success with Leinster and the Ireland national team, Schmidt does not feel out of place working with Ulster. He noted, "It's funny, I'm just coaching, so it's often not about the tracksuit top you're wearing. It's just about trying to do a good job, trying to develop understanding, improve technique, and that doesn't really change."

His established relationships within Ulster, particularly with general manager Rory Best and head coach Richie Murphy, facilitated his transition into the role. According to Schmidt, building trust is essential in fostering a productive coaching environment. He indicated that his experience and long-standing connections positively influence his capacity to enhance the development of emerging players.

Though Schmidt turned down a return to Leinster for the head coach position in July, he has left the door open for a return to frontline coaching in the future. He mentioned, "I don't really see too far in advance. A lot of things that have happened in coaching are just sliding doors... I've just coached as best I can, tried to develop the best environment, and I've tried to learn along the way."

Given his extensive involvement with teams over the past 13 years, many wonder if he could resist the temptation to return to a head coaching role before the next Rugby World Cup in 2024. He quipped about his plans for the tournament, saying, "I'm hoping to be sitting in the stands. I'll be supporting three teams, so I'm thinking that I'm going to have a good chance."