Coach call: Mark Hager to lead Kookaburras' 'new era'

Former Kookaburras captain Mark Hager will guide the side into a “new era” after being confirmed as Colin Batch’s replacement.

The two-time Olympian and Atlanta bronze medallist will step into the role as national men’s hockey team coach after three years as Hockey Australia’s (HA) athlete pathway boss.

Before that he coached Great Britain’s women to bronze at the Tokyo Games and New Zealand’s women to fourth at the two Olympics before that.

He’s also coached Australia’s under-21 men’s and women’s teams and been a Hockeyroos assistant.

After 231 caps for his country, Hager is relishing the chance to shape a team that is already undergoing regeneration given the recent retirements of captain Aran Zalewski and goalkeeper Andrew Charter.

“You always aspire to coach your home country. Having been a Kookaburra myself, and having had the experience of coaching overseas, I feel now is the right time to step into this role,” he said.

The Kookaburras have won one Olympic gold, the breakthrough in Athens 20 years ago among five bronze and four silver medal campaigns.

In Tokyo they lost to Belgium in a shoot-out for the title while they were beaten in the quarter-finals in Paris, prompting long-time coach Batch’s departure.

“The goal is always to win medals,” Hager said.

“Over the next three and a half years leading into the Olympics, we have to be well prepared.

“We need to create depth, and we need to turn up with a really competitive group who truly believe they can win a medal.

“I get very excited about the history and rich legacy of the Kookas and knowing what it means to be a Kooka, having been there and experienced it myself. I’m just really excited to be a part of it again.”

The selection panel interviewed 10 people for the role, Hager’s recent experience in the system considered as helpful as his past.

“He’s demonstrated technically, tactically and culturally with New Zealand and Great Britain and has a sound understanding of our strengths and challenges, having been embedded in our pathways system for the last three years,” HA high performance director Bernard Savage said.

HA chief executive David Pryles said Hager was the man for the job.

“This is a really exciting new era for the Kookaburras,” he said.

“It’s our chance to refresh, reset and turn our attention to focusing on medalling in LA 2028.”