Australian Todd Williams has been named Reading HC’s new head of men’s performance.
Williams, a Hockey Paper columnist, is a former Australian international who came to England to play for Southgate in 1998 and will be tasked with bringing Reading back to the Premier Division.
His extensive coaching experience includes both Hampstead and Westminster HC and Surbiton HC, who he guided to an HA Cup win and to the EHL for the first time. Williams, a TV commentator for EuroHockey events, also coached Slough, winning the Women’s Premier League title and a silver medal at the European Cup Winners Club Competition.
On the appointment, Williams said: “The very first Premier League team I played against after arriving from Australia was Reading. With the likes of Jon Wyatt, Rob Todd, Simon Mason and Mark Pearn, they were the first generation of squads that achieved so much success through the 2000’s.
“Right from that first match, it’s always been clear to me how much pride Reading players have in their shirt and that is no different to today’s current young group. At what is very much the start of a new era, I’m really looking forward to working with them to build the platform for the club’s next successful generation.”
Tim Hunt, chair of Reading Hockey Club, said: “I couldn’t be more delighted that Todd has agreed to join Reading as Head of Men’s Performance. His credentials as a coach speak for themselves and having got to know him, I know he is exactly the right person to lead the Men’s programme.”
At international level, Williams has worked with various teams as a technical coach and was an assistant coach for Ireland’s men at the 2013 European Championships in Belgium. He is also an FIH Coach Educator and is currently the Director of Hockey at Abingdon School.
Williams will begin working with the playing group at Reading immediately as they enter pre- season and prepare for a full season in the EH Division 1 South.
Meanwhile, Tom Millington has been announced as the men’s assistant coach for the Men’s 1s. Millington has been coaching goalkeepers for a decade at all levels and specialises in developing performance athletes.
