England Age Group Head Coaches

Mark has coached on the England Age Group programme since 2011, as well as assistant coaching on the England and Great Britain U21 programmes, attending Junior World Cups and European Cups.

Mark has over 10 years experience coaching in the English Premier League with Brooklands men and Olton and West Warwickshire women, as well as spending 2 seasons playing and coaching in Australia. He is capped up to senior international level for Wales. 

Passionate about people development, his career has seen him working across 25 Olympic and professional sports supporting coaches and environments.

Brett comes to the England Age Group programme after working with the England U21 Women's and Great Britain Elite Development programmes and has spent considerable time working in sport and education in a variety of settings.

Most recently Brett led Loughborough University to consecutive BUCS titles and promotion to the Premier League, as head of the women's performance programme, working with many athletes who have gone on to represent the Senior Great Britain Women's Squad. Brett has also spent time coaching in Australia and has been a part of hockey programmes in the majority of settings, including state and independent secondary and primary schools, clubs and England Hockey pathway programmes.

Brett also has an education background and has worked as a coach developer for England Hockey.

"I love working with players on the journey, helping them explore how good they can be and supporting them to take on the challenge of playing other nations. 

I want to help them to develop during the good and not so good times, helping them to figure out how to push themselves to take on a performance mindset."

“It’s a privilege to be a part of the England Age Group programme, working with and supporting players with so much potential. Seeing them progress both on and off the field is what really drives me.

Bringing my experiences working with the U21s and EDP and in the University space puts me in good stead to steer players, preparing them for the next steps on their journeys.”

Harry has been involved in the England Age Group programme since 2022. 

He is the Director of Hockey at the University of Exeter and has worked there since 2014. During his time he has helped the Men’s side gain promotion into the Premier League in both outdoor and indoor formats whilst also winning a BUCS Silver Medal with the Women and a BUCS Gold Medal with the Men. 

He has also taught PE and worked as an Assistant Housemaster and Director of Hockey at Blundell’s School. 

Harry has also spent 3 seasons playing and coaching in the Australian Premier League and Victorian State Side allowing him to gain great insight into the southern hemisphere style of play. Before he joined England Hockey, Harry worked for Hockey Wales, coaching their U16, U18 and U21 groups across both genders. 

Don has been coaching within the U16 Girls England Age Group programme since 2016.  

Previously, he was Head Coach at Sutton Coldfield Hockey Club, gaining experience of the Premier League both outdoors and indoors.  Don helped Sutton Coldfield win two national league conference titles and to be runners-up in the Indoor Super Sixes tournament (2013).  

Don is a senior academic at the University of Worcester, with a research and teaching specialism in athlete and coach learning, sport pedagogy, and leadership. Don is the UK representative to three international academic coaching and teaching organisations.

"It's a real privilege and a pleasure to not only work with a dedicated group of staff but also with some of the most promising young players in the country.

I love working in this environment to help them on their journey to becoming better people and better hockey players."

"I love the enthusiasm the U16 bring to the environment.  It is the biggest privilege to help shape their learning journeys over the course of the year (or two) that we work with them. 

I love working in an environment which genuinely seeks to serve the athletes, care for them and challenge them - all with the aim of helping them to become the best they can be."