Let us tell you a little bit about what talent we have in our first XI hockey coaching team.

Craig Hardman

1st XI Boys' Hockey Coach

Craig has coached at various levels from school through to Waikato and Midlands Hockey. Currently the Head of Physical Education at St Paul’s, Craig joined the school after completing a conjoint degree in teaching and sports and leisure. Since his arrival, he has coached the 1st XI team, culminating in the team becoming national secondary school champions in the Rankin Cup and being named the secondary schools’ ‘team of the year’ at the Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards. Craig has developed and implemented various initiatives such as the Xccellerator programme for junior high performance sportsmen and the Character Education programme, a drive to introduce character development into the curriculum. He forged a partnership with the regional Midlands Hockey organisation and helped establish a Collegians' Hockey Club to enable past students and members of the community to play hockey through the school. “My philosophy around coaching is developing the whole player. It is important a player develops in the sport they love, but also the other important areas of being a man or woman of good character and developing their areas of academic ability.”

Matt Rees-Gibbs

1st XI Boys' Hockey Coach

Having specialised in coaching at tertiary level, Matt is qualified with a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching from the University of Waikato. He is a former Black Stick and has had a range of hockey coaching experience including the University of Waikato’s premier men’s team. Over the years, he’s taken high school, club and rep teams under his wing, leading some to national titles. “I have a good understanding of the phases of learning a skill which has allowed me to work with people of various ages and abilities. I can identify what type of coaching method is going to best suit the age and stage of a player.” Currently he coaches St Paul’s 1st XI boys’ team, as well as the Waikato University men, Midlands U18s, and is working for Midlands as a talent development coach.

We wish to acknowledge the tremendous support from our hockey sponsors this season. Thank you.

- Waste Management

- Educare

- Lugtons Real Estate

- Just Hockey

- Craigs Investment Partners

- New World Rototuna

- Solarix

- Little India