Fresh Faces Guide - TGS Sportsmen into the Fray

With their dedication to excellence and player development, TGS athletes are in good hands as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of competitive sports.

Mr Ben Maddox, Head of Sport - Cricket

Mr Ben Maddox commenced as the Head of Sport - Cricket in August 2023, bringing a wealth of experience to our School after having enjoyed a successful career in both boys’ education and coaching. A qualified Physical Education and Science teacher with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement Studies, Ben taught Physical Education, Science, and Sport and Recreation at Marist College Ashgrove for 20 years.

Mr Maddox’s expertise in coaching is significant, including positions at schoolboy and representative level, working with both male and female athletes. Most recently, he was Head Coach of the Southern Rockets in the Brisbane Premier League and of Western Suburbs in the Queensland Premier Cricket.

In 2017, Ben was invited to travel to Hong Kong to complete a High- Performance Coach Accreditation Program (L3) through Cricket Australia. Through the University of Queensland, he has gained his Masters in Sports Coaching. Ben also holds Certificates III and IV in Fitness and has successfully coordinated and led several domestic and international cricket tours to destinations including the UK and Sri Lanka.

Mr Maddox is most excited about the prospect of contributing to the rich history of the cricket program here at the School, “I hope that during my tenure, I can continue to grow the appetite for the sport, fostering a culture of excellence, sportsmanship and camaraderie.”

While cricket is his passion, Ben also enjoys playing golf, surfing and mountain biking. His hobbies are quite varied, including being a Bonsai tree enthusiast. He plays the guitar and dabbles in roasting his own coffee.

Mr Mark Alexander, First XI Coach

Mr Mark Alexander has been coaching cricket since 2015, leading various representative teams over the past five years, but his appointment as coach of the First XI is somewhat of a homecoming. It’s exactly 30 years since he played for the First XI, and the Old Boy (1990–1994) said, “It’s an honour; the whole experience has been quite surreal and something dreams are made of.”

While Mark says he is aiming for an improvement in GPS placings, he rated his first season as the coach as a great experience. Mark praised his close working relationship with Mr Ben Maddox and the other coaches who helped him learn the intricacies of GPS sport.

He also values his close collaboration with fellow Old Boy, Mr Jackson Stone, who is Head of the School’s Athletic Development program. “We work closely with the boys in all facets of strength and conditioning. Through gym and field sessions targeting speed, strength and power, we ensure the boys are equipped with the physical capabilities to perform at the highest level,” Mr Alexander said.

It’s Mark’s great hope that all these efforts by the coaching staff ensure the players can perform and play to the best of their ability but, most importantly, enjoy their cricket whilst at TGS. Mark himself is enjoying playing cricket again after a 20-year hiatus. He absolutely loves it and hopes to keep playing when he can.

Aside from cricket, Mark loves mountain biking, hanging out with his family and drinking as much coffee as possible.

Mr Lincoln Clapham, Head of Sport - Rugby

Mr Lincoln Clapham said he is thrilled about becoming a part of the TGS community and truly values the School’s commitment to developing men with good character, something just as vital on the rugby field as it is off it.

Mr Clapham has spent the past six years working in high-performance rugby as the Pathways Coordinator for the Queensland Reds. Over that time, he worked with players from junior schools and club rugby as well as from leading programs such as the Reds Academy and Reds Women. He has even been assistant manager of the Wallabies.

Lincoln cited the collaboration between the TGS Rugby program and the Athletic Development program as pivotal to maximising player performance and safeguarding their wellbeing. “Through meticulous workload management and regular assessment of their wellness scores, coaches can fine-tune training regimens to optimise athletic output while minimising the risk of injuries and burnout,” Mr Clapham said.

Mr Clapham is keen on the great outdoors and spends any free time he has exploring and camping in some of the most picturesque spots that South East Queensland has to offer.

Mr Jackson Stone, Head of Athletic Development

Mr Jackson Stone, also a TGS Old Boy (2003–2014), began his role as the Head of Athletic Development in August 2023, returning to his roots with a deep-seated passion for sports that has defined his career.

From a young age, Jackson immersed himself in cricket, track and field and touch football, which led him to pursue a degree in Exercise Science at university. His academic journey paved the way for an internship with the Brisbane Broncos, marking the start of a distinguished career in strength and conditioning.

Jackson’s desire to return to regional Queensland drove his move back to TGS. He views this opportunity as a chance to enhance athletic development within the School, solidified by his personal understanding of the GPS system and its pressures from his own experiences.

Jackson’s commitment to fostering holistic excellence for all students is evident in the creation of the Student Athlete Management System, a unique sport science tool that aids in preparation and monitoring of TGS boys. When not focusing on his athletes, Jackson loves hiking and has hiked all 60 of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks. He loves wildlife photography and travel and has visited every country in Europe.