Jennings was asked by the Ararat Football Club to be the junior coordinator at the conclusion of the 2019 season, as part of the role he was also required to be the Auskick coordinator for Ararat.

Jennings jumped at the role and thought "it was a great opportunity" to help foster the next generation of Ararat footballers to ensure growth in junior football participation.

"It was an exciting opportunity to help some kids develop their skills and get some grassroots footy coming through the ranks to hopefully play Under-13s footy and beyond," he said.

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Jennings did not set out to achieve personal accolades, all he wanted to do was to help the young players improve.

"I am really humbled by it, that's not why I did it," he said.

"I did it for the smiles on the kid's faces and how much they have improved throughout 15 sessions of Auskick, that's what I get a real buzz out of."

"I didn't even know a Auskick Coach of the Year award existed."

Since being appointed as junior coordinator two years ago, Jennings has attempted to create a safe environment where every player feels equal.

"The role I play is I make every kid feel as important as the kid standing beside him," Jennings said.

"Auskick is about participation, involvement and kids wanting to learn and play footy."

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A season highlight for the players and Jennings was being able to play on the MCG at half-time of the round 10 clash between Hawthorn and Carlton.

"They loved it, seeing their smiling faces running out on the MCG and kicking a goal in front of 30,000 people was just an experience I am sure they will never forget and it was an experience I loved being part of," he said.

He found the position of Auskick coordinator rewarding because he was able to see players enhance their football skills and gain confidence throughout the year.

"At the start of the year there may have been three or four kids that didn't quite get the grasp of how to play footy or how to kick the ball or how to run," he said.

"However, at our last session they were running in the right spots, holding the ball correctly and to see the smiles on their faces during the participation was enormous, one of the best feelings a person can have is being involved in footy."

Before taking on the role of junior coordinator he was the Ararat Eagles interim senior coach in 2019.

"When the Eagles were in trouble I was at their crisis meeting, being a board member of the Mininera and District Football League and I just thought I am in a situation to help here, so I did," he said.

He explained the pressures of coaching junior and senior football are great and also challenging.

"The seniors want success on and off the field and your not just coaching the footy side but actually trying to guide young men to not only be better footballers but to be better people," he said.

"I think there was more pressure in a way coaching five to nine year old kids to get the basics of the game and teach them about being a good sports person at a young age.

"The experience I had I will remember forever."

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