20 Questions With Lions Head Coach Gavin Lee

A rapid-fire questionnaire designed to surface the human behind the headlines, revealing quirks, convictions and quiet truths. Simple questions, honest answers.

Thanks for speaking to NIEWS and congrats on your new role as Head Coach of the Singapore Men’s National Team. Could we put football aside and get to know you instead?

Gavin Lee (BSc Sport Science & Management, Class of 2015): Err.. sure!

1. First thing you do when you wake up?
Shower and start my morning workout.

2. Coffee, tea or neither?
Coffee before 2pm and tea after 2 pm.

3. A sound that instantly calms you?
Sound of my breath.

4. Small luxury you refuse to give up?
My daily coffee.

5. Morning person or night thinker?
Definitely morning.

6. Habit from student days you still can’t shake?
Starting the day with a workout.

7. Most useful lesson from your time at the NIE?
Time management to schedule coaching session and lessons.

8. Routine that helps you reset?
Reflecting on the day.

9. Something you’re surprisingly bad at?
Breaking out of routines.

10. What do you overthink most?
Possible scenarios and the subsequent outcomes of football games.

11. What does discipline mean to you?
Ability to come back to task when distracted.

12. Last thing you changed your mind about?
Our recruitment process, moving from traditional CV first to knowledge first.

13. What motivates you?
When I manage to understand something better, or make a new connection from old references.

14. A lesson you learned the hard way?
Many painful lessons came when we didn’t get the desired results and/or performances on the pitch.

15. A skill you’re still working on?
Being comfortable with discomfort.

16. Teaching vs. coaching: is there a difference?
Both aim to improve performance; the difference lies in what is taught.

17. School subject that surprised you by being useful in life?
Introduction to philosophy; logical analysis became very applicable to daily work and living.

18. Very Singaporean pastime that you secretly enjoy?
Watching Netflix with my wife.

19. One belief you’d hold dear even if it’s unpopular?
Focus on the process first and let the score take care of itself.

20. Finish this sentence: In 10 years, I hope I’m still….
…trying to be a better coach and person every day.

The article was retrieved from NIEWS Issue 135.