Netball New Zealand has appointed High Performance expert Stephen Hotter to the role of Head of High Performance.
Hotter, who has been working as team leader for High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), is not new to the Silver Ferns environment having worked as lead strength and conditioning specialist (2012-2020).
He was the lead strength and conditioning coach during a successful period for the Silver Ferns including a Constellation Cup win (2012), silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, silver at the Netball World Cup in 2015 and when the Ferns won the world title in 2019.
Hotter was also the strength and conditioning coach for the Pulse from 2008-2011 and worked with the Wellington Rugby Union prior to that.
Most recently, in his role as Performance Team Leader with High Performance Sport NZ, he was a part of the preparation and recovery team to the Rio Olympics (2016) and then in a leadership role for the preparation and recovery team at what has been New Zealand’s most successful Olympic Games, Tokyo in 2021.
He takes over from Keir Hansen, who had been Head of High Performance since 2016.
NNZ Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie said she was delighted to welcome Hotter back into the netball fold and was pleased to have someone with his background in the high performance arena as well as his already extensive understanding of netball.
“This is a key appointment for us as we enter the next cycle for our high performance athletes, following July’s Netball World Cup, and we’re excited to have someone like Stephen, who knows our systems well, come into the role at such an important time,” she said.
“Stephen has the advantage of having worked with some of New Zealand’s leading athletes in various sports but also with the Silver Ferns, meaning he brings a well-rounded expertise into the role of driving our programme.”
Hotter said he was thrilled to take on the high performance role and was looking forward to working with Netball New Zealand again.
“This is an opportunity that I’m really excited about - working with New Zealand’s leading netballers and delivering a world-class high performance programme,” he said.
“It is a big year for netball with the Netball World Cup and as we enter the next four-year cycle, it is vital to ensure we continue to build and grow from our previous successes.”
Hotter will start the role at the end of the month.
Hotter, who has been working as team leader for High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), is not new to the Silver Ferns environment having worked as lead strength and conditioning specialist (2012-2020).
He was the lead strength and conditioning coach during a successful period for the Silver Ferns including a Constellation Cup win (2012), silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, silver at the Netball World Cup in 2015 and when the Ferns won the world title in 2019.
Hotter was also the strength and conditioning coach for the Pulse from 2008-2011 and worked with the Wellington Rugby Union prior to that.
Most recently, in his role as Performance Team Leader with High Performance Sport NZ, he was a part of the preparation and recovery team to the Rio Olympics (2016) and then in a leadership role for the preparation and recovery team at what has been New Zealand’s most successful Olympic Games, Tokyo in 2021.
He takes over from Keir Hansen, who had been Head of High Performance since 2016.
NNZ Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie said she was delighted to welcome Hotter back into the netball fold and was pleased to have someone with his background in the high performance arena as well as his already extensive understanding of netball.
“This is a key appointment for us as we enter the next cycle for our high performance athletes, following July’s Netball World Cup, and we’re excited to have someone like Stephen, who knows our systems well, come into the role at such an important time,” she said.
“Stephen has the advantage of having worked with some of New Zealand’s leading athletes in various sports but also with the Silver Ferns, meaning he brings a well-rounded expertise into the role of driving our programme.”
Hotter said he was thrilled to take on the high performance role and was looking forward to working with Netball New Zealand again.
“This is an opportunity that I’m really excited about - working with New Zealand’s leading netballers and delivering a world-class high performance programme,” he said.
“It is a big year for netball with the Netball World Cup and as we enter the next four-year cycle, it is vital to ensure we continue to build and grow from our previous successes.”
Hotter will start the role at the end of the month.