Meet the Strength Behind the Scenes: St Augustine’s College Athletic Development Team
Athletic growth is more than just physical training, and at St Augustine’s College we champion this alongside discipline, resilience, and consistent support. We are so proud to have a dedicated Athletic Development Team working with our young men throughout their journey at the College. With backgrounds in elite sport, physiotherapy, coaching, and education, our Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coaches help students push their limits safely and confidently.
The College Gym is open to students Monday to Friday from 6:45am-8:15am/3:30pm-5:00pm. During these sessions, the boys will have access to professional coaching from the Athletic Development Team, and we welcome and encourage all our boys to take advantage of this.
We have introduced the Team below - they are all set to help the boys work on their tailored needs and goals.
Mr Kaplan
Mr Kaplan holds a Bachelor of Exercise Science and is an ASCA Level 2 accredited coach. Alongside his work at the College, he supports the Colts Rehab program at Gordon Rugby and has experience working across multiple schools in Sydney.
Mr Abrahams
Mr Abrahams has been with St Augustine’s College for four of his five years as an Athletic Development Coach. His strength and conditioning approach focuses on long-term athletic growth, injury resilience, and discipline development in training. Mr Abrahams also serves as Head of Strength & Conditioning for the Warringah Rats Colts program, working with several College Old Boys.
Ms Maher
Ms Maher has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science. She joined the College’s Athletic Development Team in 2023 and is about to also complete her Masters of Physiotherapy at UTS.
Ms Gough
Ms Gough holds a double degree in Sport and Exercise Science, and Sport and Exercise Management, both obtained at UTS. She has been part of the College’s program for three and a half years now, and brings years of experience as a personal trainer, and a rugby league S&C coach for teams in the SG Ball and Tarsha Gale competitions.
Mr Simpson
Mr Simpson holds a degree in Sports & Exercise Science, and has recently joined us after relocating from a seven-season professional rugby career in England. He has developed a strong passion for strength and conditioning throughout his studies and subsequent career experience. Mr Simpson’s time as an elite athlete gives him valuable insights into athletic performance, training methodologies, and sporting development - all of which he now shares with Saints students.
Mr Alexander
Mr Alexander holds a Bachelor of Sport & Exercise Science from UTS and is a Level 1 accredited S&C coach. His coaching experience includes roles with the Sydney Swans Academy, Penrith Panthers, NSW Institute of Sport, Northern Suburbs Rugby Colts, and other Sydney schools, alongside his coaching at St Augustine's College.
Mr Pawson - Head of Athletic Development
Mr Pawson has led the Athletic Development program at the College since late 2022. Previously, he held the position as Strength and Conditioning Coach coached at Knox Grammar across their Rugby, AFL, Cricket, and Volleyball programs. He has also worked with Cricket NSW (U17 and U19 male pathways) in various positions, and served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Sydney Thunder during the early BBL|14 season.
A passionate cricketer himself, Mr Pawson played for the Sydney Thunder in BBL|12 and made his Sheffield Shield debut for NSW against Queensland at the Gabba in February 2025. His experience as both a high-performance coach and athlete gives him a strong foundation to lead the team and inspire our students.
