Gary Stead has officially re-joined New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as a high-performance coach, a move that comes just over three months after his departure as the national men`s head coach. During his seven-year tenure, Stead was the team`s most successful coach. In his new capacity, he will concentrate on “supporting player and coach development, as well as high performance programmes,” as outlined in an NZC statement.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Stead stated, “New Zealand cricket has been at the core of my life for over 30 years, and it`s truly special to continue contributing to the sport I love. I remain passionate about coaching and dedicated to helping individuals learn and improve. If I can share my expertise and experiences with the broader cricket community to help the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS succeed globally, that would be immensely gratifying.”
He also acknowledged the value of opportunities beyond NZC, remarking, “I appreciate the chance to work outside of NZC to broaden my skills and experiences, and I hope to integrate what I learn back into our cricket environment.”
One such external commitment is his ongoing role as head coach for the Andhra Cricket Association`s men`s team in India. Stead has also recently provided interim coaching support to Otago Cricket during the winter pre-season and participated in a New Zealand Under-19 camp this month, further demonstrating his dedication to cricket development.
Daryl Gibson, NZC`s chief high-performance officer, praised Stead`s return: “Gary`s extensive knowledge and experience in cricket are invaluable. His continued passion and motivation to contribute to the sport in New Zealand speak volumes about his character. His new role, which requires an average commitment of three days per week, will see him engaged across our high-performance network, allowing national and domestic coaches, players, and staff to benefit from his expertise and insights.”
Gibson further added, “Gary`s ability to engage in external roles, such as his recent part-time appointment with the Indian domestic side Andhra for their upcoming four-day competition, will further enhance his knowledge and experience, which he can then bring back to our system.”
During his previous stint as head coach of the men`s national team, Stead achieved notable successes. These included leading the team to victory in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) title in 2021 and orchestrating a dominant 3-0 Test series sweep against India last year.
Stead`s long history with NZC spans various coaching and development roles. He initially served as a coach development manager from 2004-2009, then as an assistant coach at the NZC Academy (2005-06), head coach for the New Zealand Women`s team (2009-12), and finally as Canterbury`s head coach and director of cricket (2012-18) before taking the helm of the men`s senior team in 2018.
