Paul van Ass will be the new national team coach of the Dutch women’s hockey. It is a much discussed position, because under the previous national coach, Alyson Annan, a culture of fear had developed within the player group.
Annan, who won Olympic gold last year with the Orange, was fired in January. In her wake, technical director Jeroen Bijl recently left the hockey association, because he said he was no longer able to fulfill his position properly due to all the unrest.
Van Ass is the new national coach as of September 1. He signs a contract up to and including the 2024 Olympics and takes over from Jamilon Mülders, who has been with the group since Annan left. Van Ass will also remain coach of the men of HGC.
“Honestly, when the KNHB asked me for this position, I had to think about it for a while. I really enjoy it at Heren 1 of HGC. But it is a huge honor if you are asked to represent your country” , said 61-year-old Van Ass.
Complex quest
With the appointment of Van Ass, the complex search for a new national coach is over. Experienced and available women’s coaches are not up for grabs. At the beginning of May, Rick Matthijssen, coach of the men of Bloemendaal, seemed to have settled with the hockey association, but later he extended his contract with Bloemendaal.
