Hockey Ireland has confirmed that Mark Tumilty is stepping down as Head Coach of the Ireland Senior Men’s National Team following the recent World Cup campaign. Mark has made the personal decision to take a break from the demands of international coaching following a significant period of commitment to the programme.
Hockey Ireland say that they respect his decision and wish to express their sincere appreciation for his leadership, dedication and contribution to the development of the senior men’s team. Neville Rothman, currently Assistant Coach, has been appointed Interim Head Coach, ensuring continuity for the squad and wider high-performance programme during the transition.
Neville’s familiarity with the players, coaching structures and programme will provide valuable stability as the team prepares for its next international cycle. Hockey Ireland will commence a formal recruitment process for the permanent Head Coach position next week, with the aim of completing the appointment by the end of December 2026.
Speaking after the announcement Mark Tumilty said: “Coaching Ireland has been a tremendous honour and something I’ve been incredibly proud to do. After a significant period of commitment to the programme, I feel this is the right time for me to step back and take a break from international coaching.
“I’d like to thank the players, coaching and support staff, Hockey Ireland and everyone who has supported the team during my time in the role. I wish the squad and the wider programme every success as they move forward.”
Andrew Partridge, High Performance Director at Hockey Ireland, said:”On behalf of Hockey Ireland, I’d like to sincerely thank Mark for his commitment and contribution to the Ireland Men’s programme. He has given a huge amount to the team, and we fully respect his decision to step away at this point.
“We’re also very pleased that Neville has agreed to take on the interim role. His experience and knowledge of the squad will be invaluable in maintaining continuity while we complete the recruitment process for a permanent Head Coach.”
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