Testimonials
“Ever spent 8 hours climbing a mountain with a person who just couldn't stop driving you to reach
the top? ... Luckily I have.
If Phil Smyth can motivate this tough battle hardened warrior, he can help you and/or your company
reach new heights too. He is a skilled story teller, using great humour to entertain, while he
motivates and teaches.
Not only does he draw on his years of experience in the pressure cooker world of basketball and
Olympics but Phil enlists memories and learnings from his vast close relationships with champion
players, coaches & managers across nearly every sporting field in the world.
Relationships are what he is best at; built on listening, discussion and then offering helpful advice and direction.
Today, management & leadership ideas, in both business & sport, are so closely aligned - the individual, the small group and entire company thrive on the same heartbeat and thrill of the challenge and the destination.
Having worked closely with Phil when coaching AFL, it is my pleasure to highly recommend Phil to deliver the results you are looking for, in a big way."
Mark Williams
AFL Premiership Coach & AFL Life Member
“You’d be hard pressed to find anyone, anywhere, more positive and enthusiastic than Phil.
I’ve known ‘the General’ for more than 20 years. He’s genuinely upbeat, he loves dealing with and
helping people, and as a result he’s genuinely a great person to be around.
I also know him to be incredibly astute when it comes to understanding people, and sport. Again, he’s
one of those people who you enjoy talking to – because he just ‘makes sense’ - whether it’s analysing
a performance, talking leadership or obviously coaching.
And importantly, he’s got a great sense of humour. Or at least he thinks he does!"
Steven Trigg
CEO of Carlton Football Club
“Phil was Captain for my first 3 Olympics and as an 18yo I was immediately impressed by his leadership,
advice and ability. His record speaks for itself, but his special way of extracting the best out of his teams
when coaching is the biggest endorsement of why his mentoring programs are so successful”
Andrew Gaze
5 x Summer Olympics, 15 x All NBL first team, 7 x NBL MVP, 2 x NBL Championships, 1 x NBA Championship, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Australian Basketball Hall of Fame, played 612 NBL Games
"I have had the unique pleasure of working with elite athletes and coaches for over 20 years and regard
Phil Smyth as one of the elite amongst the elite. Despite Phil's playing and coaching record which
undoubtably speak for themselves, it has been his approach and willingness to support and drive others
that has continued to impress. He has a wonderful insight into what drives individuals and teams to
success and has been willing to share and develop these skills with a variety of sporting teams. I first
met and invited Phil to share his knowledge when I held the position as national recruiting and list
manager with the Adelaide Football club. Years later I also invited Phil to spend a week at the Western
Bulldogs while holding the position as General Manager of Football. Phil spent time with our entire
football department which included our senior players, coaches, development coaches, conditioning team, medical team and our recruiting and list management team. His observations, one on one discussions and recommendations had a significant impact on the entire football department and was well received by all. Phil has great empathy, knowledge and experiences at the elite level, this combined with his no fuss approach and honest assessments stand him, I believe, amongst the best of the best."
James Fantasia
Director, Jetts 24 Hour Fitness Hawthorn, former General Manager Football, Western Bulldogs, former General Manager Football Operations, Hawthorn Football Club, former National Recruiting Manager, Adelaide Football Club
“ Have been a colleague and friend of Phil Smyth for 30+ years, since meeting him at the AIS in
Canberra, when he was playing basketball for the Cannons. His NBL and international career, both
as a superb point guard and captain, speak for themselves. But Phil has an experience, and a record
of continual success both on and off the court, which have real application for the business world,
sporting clubs and individuals as a mentor. For his personal attributes and professional competencies,
I would encourage people to use the services he offers “
David Parkin
Four time AFL Premiership Coach, 211 games as player, 518 games as coach, Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Science Deakin University
"Phil became a client of my firm over 20 years ago. Our relationship has merged into one of friendship
and I have relied on Phil for his mentoring attributes for myself and clients of 360PWBD.
Individuals from business, sport and private have all benefitted from his counsel.
His objective and incisive analysis followed by his subsequent guidance and instruction is
outstanding. His ability to follow his observations with options that invite change, and within
it growth, is one of his strong suits.
Humour and many of his illustrative examples are drawn from his international sporting experiences and add weight of credibility but also give lightness- again a gift in a mentor.
His messages are delivered with a humble somewhat understated style that belies the point and impact of his message- But allows him to build a relationship that ensures the message is heard.
Phil’s greatest strength is the rapport he develops with both the high achiever and the humble less profiled strivers."
Rob Zadow
Director of 360Private Wealth By Design, Captain SA Sheffield Shield, Chairman of Selectors SA Sheffield Shield
"I first got to know Phil Smyth in 1999, when at the time, I was General Manager Football Operations at
Port Adelaide Football Club and Phil was providing coaching advice to Mark Williams and Phil Walsh
in their coaching roles at Port. I know firsthand that Phil’s valuable knowledge, experience and
supportive style for these “young” coaches was a factor in their success in 2004, when Port were AFL
premiers. Phil has no peer in regard to his basketball achievements as a player, coach and Hall of
Famer, but it is not widely known that beyond basketball, he has been a friend, coach and mentor to
many elite athletes and coaches involved in various sports.
In addition, Phil has been able to translate effective leadership from sporting stadiums to corporate boardrooms and executive offices – after all, effective leadership is the key to success for teams at all levels and in business. I’m pleased to have a personal and professional relationship with Phil over the past 16 years.
As a General Manager at SA Power Networks, I can vouch for his excellent leadership development input to the leaders at SA Power Networks since 2012. I highly recommend Phil Smyth to any organisation seeking to improve the performance of its leaders – corporate or sporting."
Rob Snowdon
General Manager SA Power Networks, former General Manager Football Operations, Port Adelaide Football Club
"I have on separate occasions used Phil at the grass roots level in footy clubs that I have coached and
the result has been the same…..tools that give you the opportunity for success, which delivered that
success.
People listen because he has experience, is genuine, down to earth and cares about who he is talking to.
Give him a chance to inspire you and your group, you will not be disappointed”.
David “Freddy” Freeman
Senior Coach South Whyalla Football Club
Premiership Coach at North Whyalla and Booleroo, Melrose, Wilmington Football Clubs