One Black Sticks coach goes, one stays
Colin Batch has resigned as head coach of the Black Sticks men, just two months after signing a four year coaching extension.
Departing Wellington Phoenix football coach Ernie Merrick, a good friend of Batch’s, let the cat out of the bag at his final press conference yesterday.
‘‘It’s coincidental, isn’t it, that two or three of these positions change,’’ Merrick said.
‘‘I got a text from a friend of mine Colin Batch, who is the Black Sticks’ national coach. And he’s resigned as well.’’
Hockey New Zealand high performance director Terry Evans confirmed Batch’s departure.
It is understood he is leaving to take up a coaching position with Australian Hockey.
‘‘We wish Colin all the best and thank him for his dedication to the Black Sticks men’s programme during his four years in New Zealand,’’ Evans said.
‘‘We know this decision hasn’t been an easy one for Colin, and that having been away from his family in Australia for eight years has been the main reason returning back home.’’
Batch, a former Australian international, led the Black Sticks’ men for the past four years leading on from the London 2012 Olympics.
He was on the verge of guiding New Zealand to the semifinals at the Rio Olympics, but they conceded three goals in the final four for minutes to lose 3-2 to Germany in their quarterfinal.
Before that Batch was head coach of the Belgium men for two years, and was assistant coach of the Australian men for eight years which included two successful Olympic campaigns. He also played 175 internationals for Australia.
Batch oversaw a major culture shift during his time as Black Sticks men’s coach and achieved a silver medal finish at the 2014 World League Final, fourth at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2015 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
This year, his side secured bronze medals at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Six Nations in Valencia. Hockey New Zealand will soon start their search for a new head coach.
Meanwhile, Mark Hager has been re-signed as head coach of the Black Sticks’ women. The contract extension sees Hager confirm his place as head of the programme until after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Evans said it was fantastic to secure Hager, who has been in hot demand from other nations.
Hager has been head coach of the Black Sticks women since early 2009 and has progressed his side from a world ranking of 12th to their current spot at fifth.
Over the years he has guided the women to victory at the 2009 Champions Challenge, silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, bronze at the 2011 Champions Trophy, bronze at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, runner-up at December’s World League Final and this year, gold medal finishes at the Hawke’s Bay Cup and International Hockey Open in Darwin.
In August the Black Sticks finished fourth at the Rio Olympics, missing out on a medal at the sport’s pinnacle event.