Byrne received the award for his work with the Buninyong Cricket Club and Ballarat Cricket Association.

He coached Buninyong's under-15 side, Ballarat's under-17 representative side and most prominently the Ballarat women's senior side in its inaugural season.

Byrne helped establish the women's side and coached the team as they went on to win the twenty20 premiership and finish runners-up in the one-day competition.

"I think that was the predominant factor," Byrne said.

"I had a hand in starting the club and we did really well this season. We've got a great working committee and it's a good little thing we've got going on there.

"Winning the twenty20 flag and making the one-day grand final in our first year was a pretty cool achievement."

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Byrne and the club also emphasised encouraging new cricketers to join, rather than bringing back established Ballarat cricketers now playing elsewhere.

"One of the biggest things we talked about at the start of the season was trying to target women who weren't currently playing cricket in any age group," Byrne said.

"We wanted to start at the community level and start with people who haven't played, or young girls who might just be starting out.

"There were also some other girls who hadn't played for more than a decade when they were 15-25, so encouraging them to get back into it.

"We had a really good group of people and all the feedback from the players has been really positive.

"Women's cricket is on the rise and it's growing in regional areas so much."

Byrne was nominated for the award after winning the Victorian community coach of the year in March.

Byrne said it was an unexpected honour.

"Don't get me wrong, it's been fantastic, but it was very surprising," Byrne said.

"I enjoyed the season as a coach, but I really didn't expect to be winning a national award, that is for sure.

"I reckon I've had enough recognition to last a lifetime."

Byrne used to coach and play at the Horsham Saints before moving to Ballarat.

He thanked the Saints for their support and for providing him opportunity during his early coaching career.

"They gave me my first coaching opportunity 7-8 years ago with the under-16 team," Byrne said.

"The club is just a fantastic family club and any success I have now I kind of attribute to the start there. They were just fantastic, I think I was only 19 or 20 when they gave me that opportunity so they put a lot of faith in me."

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