Post Playing and Accolades
After football Coote became a successful businessman owning a number of McDonalds franchises. He was at one time a member of the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) judiciary. In 2000 he founded the Men of League program which supports former players, officials and referees who have fallen on hard times. The program offers practical assistance and grants for medical operations; it mentors players about to retire from the game and promotes the game in regional areas. As at 2007 Ron Coote is President of the Men of League Program.
In 2004 he was named by Souths in their South Sydney Dream Team, consisting of 17 players and a coach representing the club from 1908 through to 2004, Coote has also been named in a team comprising Eastern Suburbs greatest ever players.
In 2005 he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In February 2008, Coote was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. Coote went on to be named in the second-row in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century. Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. In 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century also and again Coote was named at second-row.
Coote was made a life member of the Sydney Cricket Ground and a plaque in the Walk of Honour there commemorates his career. He is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Read more about this topic: Ron Coote
Famous quotes containing the words post, playing and/or accolades:
“I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage, with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post which any human power can give.”
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“When I get all these accolades for being true to myself, I say, “Who else can I be? I can’t be Chris Evert.””
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