Shea McAleese spent over 15 years competing at the highest level of international hockey, representing New Zealand 320 times and playing at four Olympic Games. Today, his passion is focused on helping the next generation grow, both on and off the turf. “I’m still very new to coaching, and that’s what I love about it. […]

Jo Morrison’s coaching inspiration comes from all over the world. And a recent study trip to Europe has inspired the netball coach more than ever. The former Silver Fern was given funding through the Te Hāpaitanga programme, which provides opportunities for women in high performance sport coaching. Morrison chose to use her scholarship money to […]

A mastermind behind the intricacies of what determines a successful rugby scrum, Mike Cron has achieved legendary status, and nearly 40 years on remains in hot demand for his coaching expertise around the world. A rarity in the uncertain world of sport’s coaching, Cron has never had to worry about job security since swapping from […]

Tess Mattern grew up as a swimmer in Northern California, starting racing at just four years old. But following her own path has led her to becoming one of the top triathlon coaches in the South Island. With two older sisters who swam, Mattern grew up at the pool, and swam throughout uni, teaching kids […]

One morning, Emma Millar will be coaching Commonwealth Games gold medallist Joelle King. In the afternoon, she’ll run Racket Rascals, a programme for two to four-year olds. When the evening hits, she might be teaching an adult how to hold a squash racket for the very first time, or a teenager who’s aiming to represent […]

Jason Koster was the classic Kiwi kid when he was growing up in Christchurch. He played multiple sports, but when his brother took up judo, nine-year old Jason was reluctant to join him on the mat – until his father Rob stepped in. “Dad said, ‘if I get on, will you get on?’” and so […]

For a long time, Myka Nuku and Peter Cowan were accustomed to putting their heads down and doing their own thing to drive Cowan’s performance in para waka ama.  Winning a Paralympic bronze medal changed that.  For the years leading into last year’s Paris Paralympic Games, Nuku (Ngāti Mahu, Ngāti Kahungunu) had a plan for […]

Although Kat Jones wasn’t raised in basketball surroundings, it’s a sport which is now very much part of the family. Husband Phill and their three children, Maia, Ava and Hayden all heavily involved in the sport, with Kat being the head coach for the New Zealand 3×3 U23 women’s side.  Growing up in Dunedin, it […]

Charlotte Scanlan’s love for rugby league spans from the highest level all the way down to the kids running around at their local park. A former Kiwi Fern, Scanlan now works as a Community Manager at the Warriors Community Foundation, sharing the benefits the sport can bring to many across the motu. It’s something that’s […]

As a former high-performance athlete, Steve Kent knows first hand the sacrifices that need to be made if you want to reach the top of your chosen sport, or, as in his case, sports. With his elite competition days behind him, it’s now about giving back for Kent, who is the Black Fins campaign lead […]

Like many sports fans, Natalie Lawrence has ‘the moment’ – a play which drew her in to football, capturing her imagination, then her heart, setting her on a path which would take her around the world. Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne, EURO ’96 versus Scotland. “It was an incredible goal, with an iconic celebration, and I spent […]

A now or never moment led Jon Andrews on the greatest ride of his career and following seven exhilarating days at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome in Paris he became New Zealand’s most successful Olympic cycling coach. As the Lead Sprint Coach of a small team of four women – daughter Ellesse Andrews, Rebecca Petch, Shaane Fulton […]