Hockey: Hager to stay as Black Sticks women's coach

Black Sticks women's coach Mark Hager has had his contract extended and will remain with the team after the London Olympics following his decision to re-sign with Hockey New Zealand until the end of 2014.

Hockey New Zealand chief executive Hilary Poole said the knowledge, expertise, leadership and inspiration that Hager brings to the role has been a huge factor to the Black Sticks' rise in rankings over the last two years.

"We are absolutely delighted that Mark has chosen to stay on with the team. He is held in such high regard by the international hockey community, so to have him stay with the New Zealand team beyond London is a real coup,'' said Poole.

Hager said the team's potential and eagerness to learn were big factors in signing for another two years.

"The last two years has been a learning curve, but if we stay together I think this group can achieve some really outstanding results in the future,'' he said. "I really enjoy coaching this group, they are very receptive to learning and they have reached some important milestones in the last couple of years.''

Although Hager has taken the team from 12th in the world to sixth, he said the biggest highlight was seeing the players develop and achieve top results.

"When you have players like Stacey Michelsen and Charlotte Harrison being nominated by their peers and world coaches for 2011 FIH Young Player of the Year and Kayla Sharland named in the 2010 FIH All Stars Team, that is a real buzz,'' said Hager.

A Queenslander, Hager lives in Albany and has three daughters at school in Auckland's North Shore. He said the way in which the hockey community had welcomed them also helped his decision to stay.

A former Australia hockey player, Hager holds the title as Australia's highest goal scorer (179 from 231 games) having played for the Kookaburras for 11 years. Hager's coaching history includes Australia's National Junior Men's and Women's head coach, as well as Australia's National Men's and Women's assistant coach.