HOCKEY Irish Hockey Appoint New National Women's Coach

Gene Muller Appointed Women’s Head Coach & Director of Player Performance

The Irish Hockey Association has announced the appointment of Gene Muller as the new Women’s Head Coach & Director of Player Performance today.

Muller joins Irish hockey from Field Hockey Canada, where he was the Men’s National Team Coach. During his five years there, he narrowly missed out on qualifying the Canadian Men’s National Team for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, losing by only a goal in the Final of the Qualifying Tournament to Argentina. Since then, he has brought the team to a world ranking of 16th.

Prior to this, Muller was Head Coach to the South African Women’s National Team, where he successfully coached the team to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Muller joins the IHA in a new, fulltime, permanent role of Women’s National Head Coach & Director of Player Performance, designed to achieve success in Ireland’s national teams, with the London 2012 Olympic Games as a key target. The role has on-pitch coaching responsibilities for the Senior and Development Women’s National Teams and also overall responsibility for the IHA’s Junior Age Group (JAG) squads, whose national coaches he will directly line manage.

Muller will report directly to High Performance Director Dave Passmore and indirectly to the IHA’s Chief Executive Paul Varian.

“We are very excited at the prospect of Gene joining us,” enthused Varian today. “Gene possesses the strength and depth of skills and experience that is needed to carry out such a broad role, with far-reaching responsibilities. He has coached at the highest level and been to an Olympic Games, which is a clear, non-negotiable goal with our national teams. His vision for the development of our national teams fits extremely well with our High Performance Plans and he has an enthusiasm and belief in Irish hockey that matches our ambitions.”

IHA High Performance Director Dave Passmore said “Gene is highly regarded within the coaching fraternity and will bring a wealth of high level experience to the women’s players of all ages.”

“I am excited about the prospect of coaching the Irish women's hockey team,” said Muller today. “Irish hockey has assembled a competent and ambitious leadership group and I am pleased to play a role in Irish hockey at this time. It represents a new challenge for me and a new direction for the women's program. My first objective will be to become familiar with the Irish hockey system especially the coaches and the players.”

Muller will commence employment with the IHA in early October, pending work permit and relocation issues, and will be based in Dublin.

Ends.

For More Information, Please Contact:
Paul Varian, Chief Executive, Irish Hockey Association
Tel: 01 260 0028; Email: paul.varian@hockey.ie