Rob Lynch will not coach Rockbank in the Riddell District Football League season.
He told the club last week he would stand down from the top job because of work commitments.
His loss is a blow for the Rams, who played finals for the first time in 13 years this season, Lynch’s first in charge.
Rockbank president Mark Smith said Lynch would be a big loss to the Rams.
“He did a great job for the club,” he said.
“He really continued on from the good work that Leigh [former head coach Leigh Sporle] did.”
Rockbank will begin the search immediately for Lynch’s replacement and Smith said the club would be open to either a playing or non-playing coach in 2015.
“I think that now that the club is in a better position on the ladder, we can, hopefully, get a good response,” he said.
PICTURE GALLERY: Rockbank v Riddell elimination final
“The club previously advertised for coaches but we have gone away from that in the last couple of years and have chased the coach we wanted.
“Now that we’re out of the finals, your players can be chased [by other clubs] so we really want to get that organised in the next few weeks.
“Some potential coaches are out there coaching finals so that makes it a bit hard.”
As well as breaking a finals drought, its 2014 finals showing was a major step forward for Rockbank after the club finished on the bottom of the ladder two years ago.
Smith said he was proud of what the club had achieved.
“As a club we a very proud of the way we have finished the year and to make finals was our aim,” he said.
“Obviously we didn’t win the finals but it is pretty hard from sixth position.
“Two years ago we were on the bottom of the ladder. It is a gradual build-up and we are getting there.
“The experience is fantastic and now I think they’ll have that expectation next year to make it. It gives the club something to work on now and we know where we’re at.”
