-
The Black Sticks regroup. - Source: Photosport -
Related
Hockey New Zealand will shortly begin the process to recruit a new coach to lead the Black Sticks men's programme.
Shane McLeod is contracted until the end of the year and has advised Hockey New Zealand that he won't be applying for the role when it's advertised.
Since taking on the role in 2007, McLeod's highlights have included a 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medal, beating Australia at the 2011 Oceania Cup, fourth place at the 2011 Champions Trophy and winning the 2012 Azlan Shah Cup for the first time.
"Shane has helped take the men's programme forward," says Hockey New Zealand chief executive Hilary Poole. "We have a stronger high performance programme now than we did six years ago and Shane has been a key part of this."
Over the next few months, HNZ will look to appoint the best possible person into this critical role.
"We have some very talented younger players coming through, and we're looking to appoint someone who's truly world class and experienced in terms of coaching, game strategy, communication and leadership," says Poole. "This is a pivotal role to help us take the men's programme up another significant notch, targeting a world ranking consistently within the top six and winning medals at world majors."