Former Fremantle and Essendon player Dean Solomon will join the Gold Coast SUNS as an assistant coach in October.

Solomon has been an assistant coach with Fremantle since retiring as a player earlier this season.

He will join GC SUNS Coach Guy McKenna’s coaching staff which includes Ken Hinkley and Shaun Hart where he will play an important role in developing the Gold Coast’s young talented list in readiness for the Club’s inaugural season in 2011.

McKenna said Solomon was an important addition to his coaching team having not been long out of the game and would bring a set of values that was consistent with the AFL’s newest club.
“We are building a strong culture at the Gold Coast SUNS. We will be bold, fresh and relentless in our approach and Dean is a good fit for what we have ahead of us,” he said.

“He was a player who was able to get the very best out of himself and consistently perform above expectations despite having to give a bit away in height and weight.

“That is what you can expect from the SUNS next year as we take a group of young players into the AFL.”

Solomon said: “The Gold Coast SUNS is an opportunity which doesn’t come along very often. To help build a competitive team and a culture of success is something I can’t wait to get involved in.”

Solomon joined Fremantle in 2007 after nine seasons at Essendon. He was a member of Essendon's premiership team of 2000 and part of the fearsome half-back line of Solomon, Damien Hardwick and Dean Wallis. He played a total of 209 games including 51 with the Dockers.