FORMER Kookaburras star Kiel Brown has been unveiled as the new coach of Wesley South Perth’s (WASPS) Men’s Premier League team for the upcoming season.
The 33-year-old is no stranger to success having won numerous accolades – including Commonwealth Games gold and Olympic bronze – in a glittering playing career which saw him take to the field to represent his country 173 times.
He will now be hoping to use his experience to maintain the success his side has enjoyed recently, a run or form which has seen WASPS reach two Premier League Grand Finals in as many years and lift the trophy for the first time in more than a decade in 2016.
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READ NOWBrown said he was excited for what the future holds for the club.
“I’ve been involved with WASPS Hockey Club since 2006 so it feels really good to be able to come into a group that’s been together for a little while and have a good mix of mature age players and younger players that are coming through,” he said.
“I think as a group we have some space to develop from last year and the young kids we have coming in will hopefully play a good part and to see them develop and progress will be really positive.”
Brown takes over the reins at the club from the legendary Murray McIntyre – who last year celebrated playing his 501st Premier League fixture in WASPS’ Grand Final loss to University of WA.
And although he has relinquished his coaching duties, Murray has showed no signs of slowing down and has confirmed that he will take to the field once again for his club this season.
WASPS have also confirmed that Kobie McGurk will return to her role as women’s coach for the 2018 Premier League season.
McGurk represented Australia at two Olympic Games, a Commonwealth Games, two World Cups and five Champions Trophies in a nine-year career spanning 185 caps.
Last year she led WASPS to Premier League glory in a remarkable season which saw her side go the whole campaign undefeated.
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