England and GB Hockey have announced that Zak Jones will take on the role of Head Coach of the England and Great Britain’s men’s teams.
Jones has been interim England men’s Head Coach since September 2024 and has led the team through the first two blocks of the 2024/25 FIH Hockey Pro League where the team now sit joint top of the standings ahead of the home matches in June.
He joined England and GB Hockey in 2020 as assistant coach for the men’s team having previously led the Welsh men’s team through a hugely successful period. He led Wales to retain their topflight EuroHockey Championship status for the first time in two decades as they finished sixth, their joint-highest placing at the tournament.
Since becoming a key member of the senior men’s coaching set-up, the team have risen not only through the FIH Hockey Pro League rankings but also through the world rankings with the men sitting third in the world.
On his appointment, Jones said: “I am incredibly humbled and excited to have been afforded the honour of leading the Great Britain and England Men in the next leg of their journey.
“It has been a real privilege working with the squad and getting to know them as people over the past four and a half years. As a result, I am acutely aware of both the talent and quality of person we possess within the group but also the immense drive and ambition there is to succeed.
“We will continue to build on all the great work that has gone before – developing a winning team that makes the most of our outstanding strengths and talents. Our aim is to play a dynamic and exciting brand of hockey that inspires young people to fall in love with the game. In addition, we will aspire to be a team that everyone enjoys watching play and one that the country can be proud of both on and off the pitch.”
England Hockey CEO Nick Pink said: “We are delighted to announce that Zak will take on the role of Head Coach of the England and GB Hockey men’s team after successfully leading the squad since September.
“The men’s squad have a huge amount of potential and we have seen huge progress in the last five years. Zak has been an integral part of the coaching set-up since joining us, and he has proven he has the qualities needed to take the team to the next level. We are excited to see where Zak will lead us, and we wish him all the very best.”