The 38-year-old won this year’s Eastern Region Auskick Coach of the Year award on 4 October and is now in the running for the state title.
Mount Evelyn Auskick centre co-ordinator John Bennett appointed Mr Chamberlin as coach last year after noticing “he had this natural ability to interact with kids and make it even more fun for them.”
“Brian has a great footy brain when it comes to teaching skills at Auskick level,” Mr Bennett said.
Mr Chamberlin had put his “footy brain” through a lot before taking on the Mount Evelyn coaching role.
In 2005 the carpenter, then 33, was diagnosed with cancer following a routine doctor’s appointment.
“He had a sore back and thought it was just general wear and tear from a combination of work and footy injuries,” wife Michelle said.
Doctors found a tumour inside his spinal cord between his shoulder blades.
“He was given the option of having neurosurgery and told he may never walk again,” she said.
“But if he didn’t, he would have spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.”
He had the surgery, but is still in constant pain.
The diagnosis was tough on his three young children, especially Ben who has cerebral palsy.
“To see him go from being so strong and supportive to being a shadow of his former self – it shook my foundations,” Mrs Chamberlin said.
Her husband closed his carpentry business and was no longer able to play footy.
“Brian went through a really hard time but he just set his focus on his recovery,” Mrs Chamberlin said.
“He spent a lot of time with the kids and they gave him something really positive to focus on.”
Mr Chamberlin’s involvement with the Mount Evelyn Auskick program came from tagging along with his children.
“I ended up joining in because I love giving every kid the opportunity I’d like my kids to have,” he said.
The Mount Evelyn program has grown from 50 participants to more than 100 since he became involved.
“I’d put that down to great management between John Bennett and myself,” Mr Chamberlin joked.
He enjoys seeing the kids improve, and their honesty.
“If they don’t like something, they’ll tell you,” he said.
Mr Chamberlin described himself as “fortunate through unfortunate circumstances”.
He is an assistant coach at Norwood Football Club in Ringwood and teaches carpentry part-time to local TAFE students.
He was humbled by a video tribute paid to him at the awards ceremony.
“John (Bennett) and Michelle each said a few words but it was completely un-expected,” Mr Chamberlin said.
“Nobody else there that night received anything like that.”
“Yes, the award was great personal recognition but more than that it was great recognition for the whole Mount Evelyn Auskick program.”
