Hunt on for full-time national coach

ATHLETICS: Two months after becoming chief executive of Athletics Ireland, Brendan Hackett is about to oversee possibly the most important position in the sport: that of national director of coaching. Hackett is so intent on getting the right person for the job that he's called in a few old friends to help. Friends like Brian Kerr, Niall Moyna and Liam Moggan.

Eight candidates have been called for interview next Monday. Half of them are home-based, the other four are from Britain, and Hackett describes them all as "very strong". Given the significance of the position - which effectively is the first full-time national coach of the new era - Hackett looked to the expertise of Kerr, Moyna and Moggan.

"The director of coaching will have a very clear briefing," he says, "which is mainly about bringing the sport forward in terms of technical leadership and performance. The job was also very clearly specified, because we knew the type of person we're looking for. So the eight people we've called to interview would be very strong, and come with a variety of strengths.

"But it is a crucial position, because this person will be leading in so many ways. They'll have to develop existing coaches, and will also have responsibility for five national event coaches, in sprints, distances, jumps, throws and walks. Those positions will be part-time to begin with, but hopefully down the road will become full-time as well."

While Athletics Ireland will also provide three board members for the interview panel, Hackett felt it only right to call on his old friends, who will also sit across the table next Monday.

"As the former technical director of the FAI, Brian Kerr brings in huge expertise, which is invaluable to us," he says. "Niall Moyna is someone I also respect through his work with DCU, and the same with Liam Moggan at the NCTC. So we'll be listening carefully to what they have to say.

"But I believe we can get an excellent coaching structure in place. Ireland is small enough to make those structures work, and I've always had an interest in that area. I was on the GAA's national coaching committee 15 years ago, and I remember when they had four development officers, one in each province. They must have over 60 now.

"It was the same with the soccer. So I've seen the work that full-time people can do. We're definitely playing catch-up, but if we can provide support for schools and coaches I think we can make real progress."

Hackett's position as chief executive was the first appointment filled under the new Athletics Ireland constitution approved last December. Since then, the sweeping changes have been coming into effect, starting with the new, 12-member board that oversees the sport.

"The board was shaped from the existing officers," explains Hackett. "It will go for formal election at congress in April, but the plan was to get a model up and running. So the governing of the sport has already changed greatly. We're in the process of finalising the five key committees, in finance, competitions, juvenile development, coaching and high performance.

"We've already appointed five regional coaches (the four provinces, and Dublin), to work solely with talented teenagers. On top of that we've made some really positive moves on bringing the sport together, the key one being the schools association is now fully integrated with the AAI, and the same with the universities."

The Sports Council has kicked in with significant financial backing to assist in the changes, with the €750,000 grant announced earlier this year the biggest for all governing bodies outside the GAA, IRFU and FAI.