Cavan Flynn

I would be willing to concede I had some behavioural issues, I was a bit of a ratbag in those days, said Dr Vernon Coffey.

Education didnt come easily to Vernon Coffey.

Growing up in Feilding, he struggled through high school, more interested in shooting hoops on the basketball court than hitting the books.

I was a terrible student at high school, I struggled big time, I dont even have Year 10 maths.

I just scraped through my other Year 10 subjects. Year 11 was more of a disaster, I pretty much failed everything, but I went back to repeat it because of my love of basketball. I never finished that year either, once the basketball season was over, I lost interest.

My family would try and tell you I had learning difficulties or ADHD before it was really a thing, maybe I did, maybe I didnt, I dont know. I would be willing to concede I had some behavioural issues, I was a bit of a ratbag in those days.

After dropping out of school he drifted, directionless and low on self-confidence; a fringe role with the Manawatu Jets NBL basketball team the only bright spot in an uncertain future.

It took him six years to secure his first job, feeding paper into a recycling machine which turned it into insulation for housing and then drove the truck that collected the paper and cardboard.

Falling back on his passion, he enrolled in a one-year Certificate in Exercise Physiology at the then-Manawatu Polytechnic, in the hope of being able to work at a gym.

In his first exam, he scored 100 per cent the only person in his class to do so.

To say I was scared would be an understatement. I really applied myself, gave it as much effort as I possibly could do . . . and just trying to be a big sponge and taking in everything I could.

Cavan Flynn

Dr Vernon Coffey took six years to secure his first job, feeding paper into a recycling machine which turned it into insulation for housing

It proved to be the first tentative step in a transformative education journey that has seen Dr Coffey recently appointed as the new Head of Sport and Exercise Science at Bond University in Australia.

At the end of that year, he took up a diploma option, before moving to the Waikato Institute of Technology in Hamilton, where he completed his Bachelors Degree in Sport and Exercise Science, with Honours, under the supervision of current All Blacks strength and conditioning coach Nic Gill.

Another move, this time to Australia, led to Dr Coffey earning his PhD in Exercise Physiology at RMIT University in Melbourne, before taking up a dual role as Senior Lecturer/Researcher at QUT and eventually coming to Bond University on the Gold Coast as an Associate Professor at the end of 2014.

As an educator and researcher, hes a firm believer in not asking anyone to do anything he wouldnt do himself. As such, hes had 27 muscle biopsies over the course of his academic career so far.

When we look for research volunteers, when were talking to our students you have to live it, you have to experience these things if you really want to understand.

Cavan Flynn

Dr Vernon Coffey is the new Head of Sport and Exercise Science at Bond University in Australia.

Dr Coffeys life is now very different, but he hasnt entirely left his past behind hes still a huge basketball fan, and the walls of his new office play host to a collection of sports team caps and a banner from the San Antonio Spurs NBA team.

Another thing hes retained from his past is an understanding of the difference education and people can make in someones life.

Ive had a lot of people influence me, particularly when I was a student but being an educator and a teacher the value is in the people, whether its the educator or the student, it goes both ways.

Its something I try to continue to this day and in this position as head of program thatll be my message every year to incoming students, the power of knowledge but the value in people.

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Kiwi hoopster who failed Year 10 maths now new department head at uni in Australia - Stuff.co.nz