Kookaburras start new era
New Kookaburras coach Graham Reid is confident his long-term involvement with the world's No.1 team will prevent any dip in performance as it begins a new era.
Reid, 50, was unveiled yesterday as the successor to legendary mentor Ric Charlesworth on a two-year deal, which will take him to beyond the key milestone of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
Chief executive Cam Vale said Hockey Australia received applications from around the globe.
Reid, a former player, beat the man who was chosen to co-coach with him on an interim basis at the Commonwealth Games, Paul Gaudoin.
Reid said one of his first tasks would be to try to convince a disappointed Gaudoin to remain as an assistant coach.
"We worked very well together, proved at the Commonwealth, Games and I think that it's important that I have someone who is a strong person that challenges me and I would love for Paul to stay on," he said.
"There will be minor changes (to the coaching team), but the one for me will be trying to get Paul to stay on."
Reid will also need to manage the delicate issue of superstar veteran Jamie Dwyer's future.
The 35-year-old was left out of the Kookaburras team at Glasgow but has yet to decide on retirement.
"I will be sitting down with Jamie, as I will be with all the players, and having a chat about his future and what he wants to do in hockey," Reid said.
Reid admitted it was an "interesting challenge" to follow Charlesworth, but denied he was intimidated by taking over a team which has been so successful since missing out on a gold medal at the London Olympics.
"I'll be putting my own spin on the lessons that we've learnt over the last six years," he said.
"I look forward to taking us through to success in Rio.
"To be honest, we don't think about that (pressure of past success).
"We just come back to the process all the time."
Reid also denied they would be taking a step back in performance as the team got used to the new regime.
"When I think of this process, I think of teams like Sydney or I think of Wesfarmers as a very good business example, where succession was a natural plan," he Reid. "I have been involved in the last six years so for the players, they will be hearing my voice at the end and it will be most of the same sort of stuff.
"There will be some different changes, but I hope there won't be (a slide)."
The Kookaburras' next tournament is the Champions Trophy in India in December.
