The Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) has appointed Timothy Strapp as its Head Hockey Coach - National Athlete Pathway Program.
TIS director Paul Austen said Strapp was a well-credentialed coach with significant experience in the critical National Athlete Pathway Program.
“Tim has been involved with Hockey Victoria since 2013 and was the Head Coach of the Victorian Vipers between 2015 and 2018,” he said.
“More recently he was the head coach of HC Melbourne in the Hockey One league in 2019 and the U21 Victorian Women Head Coach in 2021.
“Tim has also spent time coaching at the Hawthorn Senior Club (2008 to 2014), Powerhouse St. Kilda Senior Club (2015 to 2017), Melbourne University Hockey Club (2018) and this season is coaching at the Footscray Senior Club.”
Hockey Tasmania CEO Damian Smith said he was looking forward to Strapp relocating to Tasmania with his family and to commence working on the athlete pathway program.
“Tim will play a critical role across the state,” he said.
“The partnership between Hockey Tasmania, the TIS and Hockey Australia is so important for our sport at a local level and we are excited by the opportunities that lie ahead with the appointment of Tim.”
Hockey Australia’s Manager High Performance Pathways, Ian Rutledge, strongly endorsed the appointment.
“Given the importance of the Tasmanian hockey program, and to maintain and build upon an impressive legacy and TIS resource, it was critical that an established leader be found” Ian said.
“Tim has an impressive background in optimising a full-time daily training environment, as well as considerable success in both athlete development and technical leadership.
“Tim’s coaching success at a national and Hockey One level provide him with a well-rounded skill set to add value to the Hockey Tasmania/TIS environment.”
Rutledge said while Hockey Victoria and the VIS were losing an excellent coach, it was important from an HA perspective that it had been able to retain Strapp’s skills and expertise in the National System.