Ireland’s national women’s hockey team is currently undergoing a significant transition as the head coach, Sean Dancer, steps down from his position after serving for five years. His departure follows the team’s inability to secure a place at the Paris Olympics this year.
Originating from Australia, Dancer assumed the role in 2019 after the departure of the accomplished World Cup silver medal-winning coach, Graham Shaw. Throughout his tenure, Dancer successfully guided the team to the Tokyo Olympics, where they unfortunately exited during the group stage of the competition.
In reflecting on his coaching experience with the Irish team, Dancer characterized it as an “extraordinary journey”. He emphasized the team’s consistent performance in various competitions, including the Europeans, World Cup, and Olympic Games. Furthermore, he acknowledged personal growth in understanding the unique Irish sporting culture and skills. Dancer expressed gratitude for the privilege of getting to know each member of the team individually and extended his best wishes to the players and staff for their future pursuits.
Prior to assuming the role of Ireland’s head coach, Dancer held the position of assistant coach in New Zealand, bringing extensive experience from his time with the New Zealand team. Under his guidance, Ireland secured their inaugural appearance at the Olympics, achieving a thrilling victory over Canada in the November 2019 qualifier. Additionally, he led the team to the 2022 World Cup, where they experienced an unfortunate exit during the group stage in the Netherlands.
Regrettably, Ireland suffered further disappointment as they failed to qualify for the forthcoming Paris Olympics, experiencing defeat at the hands of Great Britain in the January qualifiers. With their world ranking at 14th, the team encountered a series of setbacks in their recent campaigns.
Following Dancer’s departure, Hockey Ireland disclosed that the head coach position would be temporarily filled from within the current coaching set-up until a suitable replacement is secured.
The Irish women’s hockey team is now poised to enter a new phase as they embark on the search for a new head coach, navigating through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the international hockey arena.