Chris Fagan (coach)

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Chris Fagan (born 23 June 1961) is an Australian rules football coach. He is the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions in the AFL. He is notable for never playing in the VFL/AFL, instead building his career through coaching and football administration.

Playing career
Fagan played in Tasmania from 1978 to 1990, appearing in more than 260 senior games as a midfielder and forward. He played for Hobart, Sandy Bay, and Devonport, scoring 430 goals. He represented Tasmania 11 times and won premierships with Hobart (1980) and Devonport (1988).

Coaching and football administration
He began coaching as the inaugural head coach of the Tassie Mariners U18 team (1995–1997). He then joined Melbourne (1998) as reserves coach, later becoming an assistant coach and the club’s General Manager of Football Operations. At Hawthorn (2008–2016), he was Head of Coaching and Development (2008–2013) and then General Manager of Football Operations (2013–2016), helping Hawthorn win four premierships.

Brisbane Lions
Fagan was appointed Brisbane Lions senior coach on 4 October 2016, becoming the oldest AFL debutant coach at 55. He led the Lions to the finals in 2019 and won the Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year Award that year. Brisbane continued to reach the finals in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2023, the Lions reached the Grand Final but lost to Collingwood by four points.

In 2024, after a famous 44-point comeback in the semi-final, Brisbane won the Grand Final against the Sydney Swans by 60 points. He became the third coach who had never played in the league to win a premiership and the oldest to coach a grand final at 63. His contract was extended to 2026.

In 2025, Brisbane won a second straight premiership, finishing third in the regular season and defeating Geelong by 47 points in the Grand Final. He again became the oldest coach to appear in a grand final, at age 64.

Honours and recognition
- 2× AFL premiership coach (2024, 2025)
- 2× All-Australian coach (2024, 2025)
- 3× AFLCA Coach of the Year (2019, 2024, 2025)
- Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductee (2007)

Education and personal life
Fagan earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Tasmania in 1988. He worked as a teacher early in his career (Sheffield District High School 1988–1989; Dominic College 1990–1994). He married Ursula in 1985, and they have two daughters and four grandchildren.