Hockey Coaches
Richard Charlesworth (Head Coach)
Ric Charlesworth is one of Australia’s greatest former hockey players and one of the world’s most experienced coaches in the game. He was appointed as national coach of the Australian Kookaburras men’s hockey team in September 2008 (four-year contract) in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games. Since then he has taken the Kookaburras to victories in the 2009 Hamburg Masters, World Cup Qualifier, Champions Trophy and the 2010 World Cup.
As head coach of the Australian Hockeyroos women’s team he has achieved stunning success at the international level. He helped to coach the Australian Hockeyroos in winning a number of world titles.
Coaching
Kookaburras
-World Cup (2010), Gold Medal
-Champions Trophy (2009), Gold Medal
Hockeyroos
- Olympic Games (1996 & 2000), Gold Medals
-World Cup (1994 & 1996), Gold Medals
-Champions Trophy (1993, 1995, 1997 & 1999), Gold Medals
-Commonwealth Games (1998), Gold Medal
Career
- 227 games for the Australia Kookaburras (1972- 1988)
- Captain of the Australia Kookaburras and Western Australia State team
- Five Olympic Games
- Silver Medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games
- Four World Cups including gold medallist and player of the World Cup Tournament in 1986
- Played first class cricket for Western Australia between 1972 and 1980
- 47 first class matches for Western Australia between 1972 and 1979 making 2327 runs and taking 35 catches.
- Captain of WA State Cricket team
- High Performance Manager to New Zealand Cricket
- Technical Advisor to India Hockey
- High performance Consultant with Fremantle Dockers Football team
- Doctor of Medicine
- Federal Member of Parliament (Perth) for 10 years
- Played 227 games for Australian Hockey team including four Olympic (five including Moscow boycott) and four World Cup tournaments. He was a gold medallist and player of the World Cup Tournament in 1986 and silver medallist at the 1976 Olympics.
- Mentor coach to five Australian Institute of Sport coaches.
As head coach of the Australian Hockeyroos women’s team he has achieved stunning success at the international level. He helped to coach the Australian Hockeyroos in winning a number of world titles.
Coaching
Kookaburras
-World Cup (2010), Gold Medal
-Champions Trophy (2009), Gold Medal
Hockeyroos
- Olympic Games (1996 & 2000), Gold Medals
-World Cup (1994 & 1996), Gold Medals
-Champions Trophy (1993, 1995, 1997 & 1999), Gold Medals
-Commonwealth Games (1998), Gold Medal
Career
- 227 games for the Australia Kookaburras (1972- 1988)
- Captain of the Australia Kookaburras and Western Australia State team
- Five Olympic Games
- Silver Medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games
- Four World Cups including gold medallist and player of the World Cup Tournament in 1986
- Played first class cricket for Western Australia between 1972 and 1980
- 47 first class matches for Western Australia between 1972 and 1979 making 2327 runs and taking 35 catches.
- Captain of WA State Cricket team
- High Performance Manager to New Zealand Cricket
- Technical Advisor to India Hockey
- High performance Consultant with Fremantle Dockers Football team
- Doctor of Medicine
- Federal Member of Parliament (Perth) for 10 years
- Played 227 games for Australian Hockey team including four Olympic (five including Moscow boycott) and four World Cup tournaments. He was a gold medallist and player of the World Cup Tournament in 1986 and silver medallist at the 1976 Olympics.
- Mentor coach to five Australian Institute of Sport coaches.
Adam Commens
Adam Commens (Coach)
Adam Commens was appointed as the Head Coach of the Australian Women’s hockey team in November 2011. After a playing career with the Australian Men’s Hockey team from 1997-2004, Adam moved to Belgium to begin his coaching career for the Belgian Club Royal Antwerp. In the space of three short years and numerous Belgian Championships, he was given the opportunity as Head Coach of the Belgian Men’s Hockey Team in June 2007. Adam quickly made an impact leading Belgium to a Bronze Medal in the European Nations Championship and in doing so gaining direct qualification to the Beijing Olympic Games, a feat not achieved by Belgium for 32 years. In the three years following he was able to lead a revival of Belgian hockey before resigning from this post to join the Hockeyroos.
Coaching
2001-2004 Sutherland Women’s Hockey Association Coaching Director
2004- 2010 Royal Antwerp Hockey Club Head Coach Women (4 Belgian Championships)
2004-2007 Royal Antwerp Hockey Club Head Trainer Men (1 Belgian Championships)
2006-2007 Belgian U18 Women’s Hockey Team
2007-2008 Belgian Women’s Hockey Team
2007-2010 Belgian Men’s Hockey Team
Playing Record
Australia 1997-2004, World Cup 1998 (4th) 2002 (Silver), Commonwealth Games 1998 (Gold), Olympics Games 2000 (Bronze)
Adam Commens was appointed as the Head Coach of the Australian Women’s hockey team in November 2011. After a playing career with the Australian Men’s Hockey team from 1997-2004, Adam moved to Belgium to begin his coaching career for the Belgian Club Royal Antwerp. In the space of three short years and numerous Belgian Championships, he was given the opportunity as Head Coach of the Belgian Men’s Hockey Team in June 2007. Adam quickly made an impact leading Belgium to a Bronze Medal in the European Nations Championship and in doing so gaining direct qualification to the Beijing Olympic Games, a feat not achieved by Belgium for 32 years. In the three years following he was able to lead a revival of Belgian hockey before resigning from this post to join the Hockeyroos.
Coaching
2001-2004 Sutherland Women’s Hockey Association Coaching Director
2004- 2010 Royal Antwerp Hockey Club Head Coach Women (4 Belgian Championships)
2004-2007 Royal Antwerp Hockey Club Head Trainer Men (1 Belgian Championships)
2006-2007 Belgian U18 Women’s Hockey Team
2007-2008 Belgian Women’s Hockey Team
2007-2010 Belgian Men’s Hockey Team
Playing Record
Australia 1997-2004, World Cup 1998 (4th) 2002 (Silver), Commonwealth Games 1998 (Gold), Olympics Games 2000 (Bronze)
Jason Duff
Jason Duff (Assistant Coach)
Jason Duff was appointed Assistant Coach of the Australian women’s team in 2011 after four years with the Kookaburras which culminated in a World Cup gold medal. The allure and challenge of the women’s team and the chance to work with Adam Commens, a former teammate, was an outstanding opportunity for Jason to progress his coaching knowledge.
Jason Duff was appointed Assistant Coach of the Australian men’s team in 2007.
After retiring in 2000, Jason commenced his coaching career with the WA Thundersticks and Australia A as Assistant Coach. In 2004 he took the opportunity to further his career in accepting a Scholarship with the Hockey Australia High Performance Program/AIS across both men’s and women’s programs. He was also fortunate to be involved with the Olympic Gold Medal Kookaburras team in 2004. Jason was then appointed to the WAIS role as Head Coach of the men’s hockey program and the WA Thundersticks. In 2007, Jason made the transition into the National Program with portfolios of analysis and coaching with the Kookaburras through to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games where they won a Bronze medal. In 2009 Jason was appointed as National Men’s Junior Coach winning the AYOF in Sydney and qualifying for the Junior World Cup, in which they won the Bronze medal.
Jason is qualified as a teacher and level 2 coach.
Coaching
2001-2003 WA Thundersticks Assistant Coach
2003 Australia ‘A’ Assistant Coach
2004 AIS scholarship coach
2006 AIS Tour Coach Korea/Head Coach Japan
2005 – 2007 WAIS Men’s Hockey Head Coach
2005 – 2007 WA Thundersticks Coach
2007 – 2008 AIS assistant coach
2007 – 2010 Australian Men’s Assistant Coach
2008 JWC Qualifier Coach
2009 Coach Aus U21 AYOF Gold Medal
2009 Australian U21 Men’s Coach JWC Bronze
2009 Head Coach Junior Men
2011-Australian Women’s Assistant Coach
Playing record
Australia (1993 – 2000), World Cup (4th), Commonwealth Games Gold and Olympics (Bronze)
Jason Duff was appointed Assistant Coach of the Australian women’s team in 2011 after four years with the Kookaburras which culminated in a World Cup gold medal. The allure and challenge of the women’s team and the chance to work with Adam Commens, a former teammate, was an outstanding opportunity for Jason to progress his coaching knowledge.
Jason Duff was appointed Assistant Coach of the Australian men’s team in 2007.
After retiring in 2000, Jason commenced his coaching career with the WA Thundersticks and Australia A as Assistant Coach. In 2004 he took the opportunity to further his career in accepting a Scholarship with the Hockey Australia High Performance Program/AIS across both men’s and women’s programs. He was also fortunate to be involved with the Olympic Gold Medal Kookaburras team in 2004. Jason was then appointed to the WAIS role as Head Coach of the men’s hockey program and the WA Thundersticks. In 2007, Jason made the transition into the National Program with portfolios of analysis and coaching with the Kookaburras through to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games where they won a Bronze medal. In 2009 Jason was appointed as National Men’s Junior Coach winning the AYOF in Sydney and qualifying for the Junior World Cup, in which they won the Bronze medal.
Jason is qualified as a teacher and level 2 coach.
Coaching
2001-2003 WA Thundersticks Assistant Coach
2003 Australia ‘A’ Assistant Coach
2004 AIS scholarship coach
2006 AIS Tour Coach Korea/Head Coach Japan
2005 – 2007 WAIS Men’s Hockey Head Coach
2005 – 2007 WA Thundersticks Coach
2007 – 2008 AIS assistant coach
2007 – 2010 Australian Men’s Assistant Coach
2008 JWC Qualifier Coach
2009 Coach Aus U21 AYOF Gold Medal
2009 Australian U21 Men’s Coach JWC Bronze
2009 Head Coach Junior Men
2011-Australian Women’s Assistant Coach
Playing record
Australia (1993 – 2000), World Cup (4th), Commonwealth Games Gold and Olympics (Bronze)
Paul Gaudoin (Assistant Coach)
Paul Gaudoin was appointed Assistant Coach of the Australia men’s team in 2010.
He coached the Perth Thundersticks National League Team for the past two years as Head Coach in which they won the title both years and has coached at Club level in Perth for 3 years. Paul is qualified as a Teacher and holds a Diploma of E-business.
He represented Australia for 11 years which included 3 Olympic campaigns and 3 World Cup campaigns.
Coaching
2010 – Assistant Coach , National Team
2009- Head Coach; Perth Thundersticks (1st)
2009 – Hale Hockey Club – Co Head Coach (5th)
2009 – Aquinas College Perth 1st 11 (3rd)
2008 – Head Coach; Perth Thundersticks (1st)
2008 – Aquinas College Perth 1st 11 (1st)
2007 - Assistant Coach; Perth Thundersticks (2nd)
2007 – West Side Wolves –Head Coach
2007 – Aquinas College Perth 1st 11 (3rd)
2006 – Assistant Coach, Perth Thundersticks (4th)
2006 – Head Coach – West Side Wolves
Playing record
234 caps for Australia (1994 – 2004)
Australian Captain 2001 - 2004
2 Olympic Games 1996 (Bronze), 2000 (Bronze) *selected in 2004 but did not play due to injury
3 World Cups, 1994 (Bronze), 1998 (4th), 2002 (Silver)
He coached the Perth Thundersticks National League Team for the past two years as Head Coach in which they won the title both years and has coached at Club level in Perth for 3 years. Paul is qualified as a Teacher and holds a Diploma of E-business.
He represented Australia for 11 years which included 3 Olympic campaigns and 3 World Cup campaigns.
Coaching
2010 – Assistant Coach , National Team
2009- Head Coach; Perth Thundersticks (1st)
2009 – Hale Hockey Club – Co Head Coach (5th)
2009 – Aquinas College Perth 1st 11 (3rd)
2008 – Head Coach; Perth Thundersticks (1st)
2008 – Aquinas College Perth 1st 11 (1st)
2007 - Assistant Coach; Perth Thundersticks (2nd)
2007 – West Side Wolves –Head Coach
2007 – Aquinas College Perth 1st 11 (3rd)
2006 – Assistant Coach, Perth Thundersticks (4th)
2006 – Head Coach – West Side Wolves
Playing record
234 caps for Australia (1994 – 2004)
Australian Captain 2001 - 2004
2 Olympic Games 1996 (Bronze), 2000 (Bronze) *selected in 2004 but did not play due to injury
3 World Cups, 1994 (Bronze), 1998 (4th), 2002 (Silver)
Graham Reid (Assistant Coach)
Graham Reid brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the game taking on the role as assistant coach of the Australian Kookaburras in January 2009. He has considerable experience playing hockey for Australia and in coaching the Perth Thundersticks in the Australian National League.
He represented Australia in 130 games from 1984 to 1992 which included competing at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic games, a World Cup (1990) and Champions Trophies (1984-92).
He is well qualified with a level 2 coaching accreditation and a bachelor of applied science (computing).
He is an inaugural member of the AIS hockey unit established in 1984 in Perth, Western Australia where he still lives today. He was an AIS scholarship holder from 1984–87 to 1990–92.
Coaching
Selected as Coach 2009 Perth Thundersticks, 2008
Trinity College Malaysian Tour (Coach), 2008
1st XI Trinity College (Coach), 2007-2008
Vic Park Xavier Hockey Club Coach, Western Australia, 2006-2008
Hotspurs South American Tour (Coach) Coach
WA High Performance & Coaching Committee (2008 – Convenor), 2005-2008
WA Elite Performance Committee, 2002-2005
Victoria Park Hockey Club, Junior Coaching Co-ordinator, Western Australia, 2002-2005
Victoria Park Hockey Club Coach, Western Australia, 1998-2000
Victoria Park Hockey Club Coach, Western Australia, 1995-997
Amsterdam Hockey & Bundy Club, The Netherlands (Specialist Coach), 1994
Redcliffe Hockey Club Coach, Queensland, 1989-90
Redcliffe Hockey Club Assistant Coach, Queensland, 1988
Victoria Park Hockey Club, WA (Coach – Challenge Cup and Grand Final), 2008
Victoria Park Hockey Club, WA (Coach – 1st Place, Challenge Cup, Minor Premiers), 1996
Victoria Park Hockey Club, WA (Coach – Grand Final), 1995
Redcliffe Hockey Club, Qld (Coach – 1st Place), 1989
Redcliffe Hockey Club, Qld (Assistant Coach – 1st Place), 1988
Playing record
1992 Barcelona Olympic Silver (Player)
2008 Coach Vic Park – WHL Cup Premiers
1996 Coach Vic Park – Classic League Premiers
3 times Olympians Medal Winner 1992, 1996 and 1998
Oakbridge Medal Winner 1983 (Best and Fairest Brisbane competition).
International Caps: 130
International Goals: 34
AIS Scholarship Holder: 1984-1987, 1990-1992
Australian National Team 1984-1992
Perth Thundersticks, 1995-6
Amsterdam Team - European Club Championships – Barcelona (2nd Place), 1995
Amsterdam H & BC, Netherlands (1994 – National Champions), 1992-1994
Olympic Games Silver Medal, 1992
Brisbane Blades (Captain – National Champions AHL), 1991
World Cup Bronze Medallist, 1990
Olympic Games 4th placing, 1988
Champions Trophy: 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 1984-1992
Junior World Cup 4th Placing (Captain), 1985
Junior World Cup Qualifying (V Captain – 1st Place), 1984
Queensland Senior State Team (Captain 1986,1987), 1983-1992
Queensland Under 21 State Team (Captain 1984,1985), 1981-85
He represented Australia in 130 games from 1984 to 1992 which included competing at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic games, a World Cup (1990) and Champions Trophies (1984-92).
He is well qualified with a level 2 coaching accreditation and a bachelor of applied science (computing).
He is an inaugural member of the AIS hockey unit established in 1984 in Perth, Western Australia where he still lives today. He was an AIS scholarship holder from 1984–87 to 1990–92.
Coaching
Selected as Coach 2009 Perth Thundersticks, 2008
Trinity College Malaysian Tour (Coach), 2008
1st XI Trinity College (Coach), 2007-2008
Vic Park Xavier Hockey Club Coach, Western Australia, 2006-2008
Hotspurs South American Tour (Coach) Coach
WA High Performance & Coaching Committee (2008 – Convenor), 2005-2008
WA Elite Performance Committee, 2002-2005
Victoria Park Hockey Club, Junior Coaching Co-ordinator, Western Australia, 2002-2005
Victoria Park Hockey Club Coach, Western Australia, 1998-2000
Victoria Park Hockey Club Coach, Western Australia, 1995-997
Amsterdam Hockey & Bundy Club, The Netherlands (Specialist Coach), 1994
Redcliffe Hockey Club Coach, Queensland, 1989-90
Redcliffe Hockey Club Assistant Coach, Queensland, 1988
Victoria Park Hockey Club, WA (Coach – Challenge Cup and Grand Final), 2008
Victoria Park Hockey Club, WA (Coach – 1st Place, Challenge Cup, Minor Premiers), 1996
Victoria Park Hockey Club, WA (Coach – Grand Final), 1995
Redcliffe Hockey Club, Qld (Coach – 1st Place), 1989
Redcliffe Hockey Club, Qld (Assistant Coach – 1st Place), 1988
Playing record
1992 Barcelona Olympic Silver (Player)
2008 Coach Vic Park – WHL Cup Premiers
1996 Coach Vic Park – Classic League Premiers
3 times Olympians Medal Winner 1992, 1996 and 1998
Oakbridge Medal Winner 1983 (Best and Fairest Brisbane competition).
International Caps: 130
International Goals: 34
AIS Scholarship Holder: 1984-1987, 1990-1992
Australian National Team 1984-1992
Perth Thundersticks, 1995-6
Amsterdam Team - European Club Championships – Barcelona (2nd Place), 1995
Amsterdam H & BC, Netherlands (1994 – National Champions), 1992-1994
Olympic Games Silver Medal, 1992
Brisbane Blades (Captain – National Champions AHL), 1991
World Cup Bronze Medallist, 1990
Olympic Games 4th placing, 1988
Champions Trophy: 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 1984-1992
Junior World Cup 4th Placing (Captain), 1985
Junior World Cup Qualifying (V Captain – 1st Place), 1984
Queensland Senior State Team (Captain 1986,1987), 1983-1992
Queensland Under 21 State Team (Captain 1984,1985), 1981-85
