Ordinary Joe

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In the autumn of 2010, Joe Schmidt, a little-known New Zealander, became head coach at Leinster without prior experience in professional coaching. After a rocky start, losing three of their first four games, doubts arose about his leadership. Fast forward nine years, Schmidt stepped down as Ireland's coach, having achieved unprecedented success in Irish rugby. His tenure included two Heineken Cups in three seasons with Leinster and three Six Nations championships with Ireland, highlighted by a Grand Slam in 2018. Schmidt also led Ireland to historic victories, including the first win in South Africa and against the All Blacks, culminating in Ireland's first-ever number 1 world ranking. Renowned for his precision, focus, and high standards, Schmidt's coaching philosophy is deeply rooted in his life experiences. In Ordinary Joe, he shares his journey, detailing the influences that shaped him as a coach and a person. His diaries from the 2018 Grand Slam and the 2019 Rugby World Cup offer an intimate look at the emotional highs and lows of coaching at the national level. From his childhood in New Zealand to the strategic environments of coaching, the narrative reveals how an ordinary man can lead teams to extraordinary achievements.