17.10.2012

Water Polo Australia (WPA) has begun the search for a world-class coach to lead the men’s national team towards the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and is currently calling for expressions of interest.

The WPA men’s High Performance Program is a partnership between WPA, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the State Institutes and Academies of Sport (SIS/SAS). 

This provides a nationally integrated and coordinated program to assist the development and preparation of elite and sub-elite athletes who have the potential to succeed at international level. 

Australia is looking to emerge as a top five nation over the next four years, with the first benchmark event next year’s FINA World Championships in Barcelona. Australia has already qualified for the World Championships by virtue of their seventh placing at the London Olympic Games.

As part of WPA’s post London Olympics review outcomes, WPA will be utilising international coaching experts to assist with the recruitment of the position, with an appointment expected to be made by the end of January 2013.

WPA’s High Performance Manager Tom Hill said the organisation was determined to make the right appointment and was taking a long-term measured approach.

“We are calling for expressions of interest between now and November 16 and then will conduct interviews in December and January before making an appointment at the end of January,” Hill said.

“The person we are looking for will have experience coaching at the highest level, that being Olympic Games and World Championships, have a good grasp of how to effectively leverage the great support services we have and be up to date with current trends in coaching science and practice.

“We also want someone who wants to lead change and establish a strategic direction for our men’s teams that will result in sustained success.”

In the interim and until a new head coach is appointed, national assistant and WAIS head coach Paul Oberman and NSWIS head coach Chris Wybrow will be managing the men’s national program in conjunction with Hill. 

The first assignment for Oberman and Wybrow will be to lead a Target 2016 combined SIS/SAS tour to Japan from 9-16 November. Japan are preparing for the Asian Championships, which is the qualifying tournament for the 2013 World Championships. The squad will be announced Friday 19^th October.

For full details of the Expression of Interest for the Australian National Men’s Head Coach position, click here.