It is with great excitement that the FHC Board are now able to announce the appointment of Josh Burt as our senior men’s section coach for the next three seasons through to and including the 2017 season. Josh is one of the most significant achievers in Victorian hockey over the past decade, having taken the Mentone Women’s first eleven from SL3 to the top of the women’s Premier League (minor premiers two of the last three years, Josh selected by his coaching peers as coach of the Women’s Premier League All-Star team in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014), and through this time Josh also coached the Vic Women’s U21 team for several years including an Australian Championships winning team in 2010.
Josh holds an NCAS Level 2 Coaching badge, and is also at the top of the Australian / International tree in the areas of tournament and team management (also holding an NCAS Level 3 badge as a technical official). Josh for the past 4 years has been a team manager for the Australian Kookaburras where he has sat at the right hand of elite world coaches like Ric Charlesworth, and the cream of the world’s male hockey players.
Another significant gain to FHC is Josh’s experience in Club development. Professionally Josh is a Sports Development Manager for the City of Maroondah, but more importantly he has himself demonstrated how to turn ambition into Club success through leading Mentone on a similar path to FHC’s over recent years. Given his coaching expertise, many clubs having tried to extricate Josh from his commitment to the Mentone Women’s program over recent years, but his commitment to see Mentone reach the top has been unshakeable. Over his time at Mentone, Josh has achieved life membership, been Club President for many years, and is a 7 time winner of the A P Drayton Trophy for Best Clubman. In terms of where our Club is at in its development, and more specifically the particular needs of our men’s coaching program, Josh Burt is a very significant gain for FHC.
With Josh at the head of the group, our men’s coaching group is again at elite Club level by any Australian standard. Supporting Josh as his senior Assistant coach is Richard Nally, Mark Ford will again develop our Premier League Reserves group, and we again have the elite fitness development skills of Troy Fluitsma.
Our Meet the Coach/first training run for the new season is just under two weeks away guys – Tuesday night November 18 at McIvor Reserve. This will be a 7:00pm sharp start and is open to all players. I certainly hope to see a large representation from all levels of the men’s side of the Club to welcome Josh to our great Club and of course to welcome back Richard, Mark and Troy. Straight after them meeting, Flute will be commencing our fitness program, so everyone get down and get involved.
More information regarding the 2015 coaching panel will be distributed as soon as all is inplace, in the meantime see you all on the 18th to welcome Josh aboard.
Cheers & please let me know if you have any questions.
Darryl Jahnke
Men’s Administrator
0423-522-818