Cricket: Football administrator named to head OCA

Mike Coggan is moving from one round ball to another.

Coggan was named yesterday as the new chief executive of the Otago Cricket Association, leaving his roles as Mainland Football chief executive and Canterbury United general manager, based in Christchurch.

OCA chairman Murray Hughes said the high quality of applicants - there were 28 - showed Otago and New Zealand cricket were in good heart.

''Mike stood out and he was the best of a really good bunch of applicants,'' Hughes said.

''He has had success in both strategic leadership and financial control and we believe he has the attributes to maintain the standing and stability the association currently has.''

Coggan is married with three children and will move to Dunedin to begin his new job in April.

He will spend 10 days with retiring chief executive Ross Dykes learning the ropes and meeting staff and key people throughout the province.

Hughes said Coggan (49) was a respected and hard-working sports administrator.

He worked for Mainland Football for nearly 10 years and before that was involved with Canterbury Basketball and Squash Southland.

He won the sport administration awards at the Canterbury Sports awards in 2010.

Hughes said Coggan had a few goals to aim for when he took charge.

''Obviously, we don't want to go backwards. We want to be where we are now and go ahead. But we have some challenges ahead. Looking to get lights and making sure our facilities down here are as good if not better than other places round New Zealand.''

Coggan was delighted to land his new position, and was honoured to take it up.

''I feel privileged to be offered this opportunity. Otago cricket has a proud and distinguished tradition. Cricket has been a lifelong sport of choice for me, so I am very excited about playing a key role within the Otago cricket community.''

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