 After his professional playing career Gerard Van der Lem started his coaching career as assistant coach to world-famous coaches like Piet de Visser, Dick Advocaat and Louis van Gaal.In his first engagement at FC Alkmaar (AZS) he was responsible coach for the amateur teams (and became Holland Champion in 1985) as well as assistant coach to Piet de Visser with the senior team.From 1986 to 1989 he was employed with FC Haarlem starting out as assistant coach to Dick Advocaat, and then following him into the position of head coach during the last year.