Hi, My name is Robert Caine, fondly known as "Coach Rob". Born in 1973 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, my cricket journey began at the age of 7, fueled by the legendary West Indian tour in the 80’s led by Alvin Kallicharran and Lawrence Rowe when I received my first real coaching.

By 14, I was a first-team player in high school, signaling the start of a lifelong passion for cricket. In 1990, I reached the finals of the schoolboy trials and although offered a scholarship to Kingswood College for my prowess as a fast bowler, a recurring dislocated shoulder led me to decline this opportunity, marking the first of many challenges I would overcome in my career.

In 1991, I played for the South African teachers colleges team against Natal as an all-rounder, showcasing my versatility on the field. My premier league cricket career spanned from 1991 to 2001, interrupted only by a year off for shoulder surgery. This injury prompted a transition from pace to medium swing bowling, adapting my game to continue competing at the highest levels. Notably, I served as a net bowler for the Proteas during the era of Jonty Rhodes and played first-class games, adding depth to my cricketing experience. My club career was highlighted by playing for the Old Grey cricket club, where, alongside luminaries such as Dave Callaghan, Kepler Wessels, and Mark Rushmere, we clinched the club championship two years in a row. When training with Kepler during 5am sessions he shared many intricacies and nuances of the game. Our team boasted an 80% win rate at Nationals, testament to our dominance on the field. The premier league brought weekly challenges against formidable opponents like Brett Schultz and Justin Kemp, enriching my experience and resilience.

Beyond playing, I dedicated six years to coaching the A teams at South Africa's premier school for cricket, namely Grey Boy’s Junior, an institution once attended by the great Graham Pollock. This role was not just a job but a calling, shaping the next generation of cricketing talent. Although I had plans to play in England in 2001, my commitment to education and teaching led me to America, pursuing my Masters and National Boards, and temporarily stepping away from cricket.

My return to the sport in 2015 was sparked by a serendipitous meeting with Alvin Kallicharran, who inspired me to take up coaching once more. This new chapter included writing his biography and traveling to Guyana to learn from the best. By 2021, I achieved my Gary Kirsten Elite certification (Level 3/4), marking a significant milestone in my coaching career. I also coached the Morrisville Cardinals in the minor league for two seasons in 2020 and 2021. Currently, I'm collaborating with Piet Botha and Alvin Kallicharran on innovative projects focusing on the biomechanics of maximizing bowling potential and cultivating mental toughness on the field through "The Grit Factor."

Parallel to my cricketing endeavors, I have been a dedicated math and technology teacher at middle school for 30 years, sharing my love for learning with the younger generation. Family is central to my life; my wife Elaina, a nurse from Montana, and I have been married since 2005, raising three children—Toby, Ady, and Rylee—who excel in top-level soccer and embody our active lifestyle and love for travels. Beyond cricket, I've coached soccer and golf. Finding joy in teaching and coaching, playing golf, having good laughs, exercising and savoring excellent coffee with friends is what brings out the best in me along with my faith.

To me, coaching is not just about teaching skills; it's about nurturing self-awareness and confidence. When a player learns to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and the causes of these, they unlock the power of self-correction. This awareness, which I teach, is the key to truly owning one’s game. I strive to empower each player with this self-awareness, because the ultimate victory in coaching is seeing a player become the master of their own game."