"When I was coaching the Hockeroos in the 90s, we changed the coaching environment." So said Ric Charlesworth as he attended a press conference announcing his planned retirement from the game following this year's World Cup and Commonwealth Games. Coming from anyone else, the words might sound boastful, but in Ric's case, it is true.
Since taking on the men's team in 2010, Ric has led the Kookaburras to World Cup and Commonwealth Games titles, an Olympic bronze and four Champions Trophy gold medals. Prior to that, he was coach to the women's national team, picking up two Olympic gold medals, two World Cup gold medals, one Commonwealth Games gold and four Champions Trophy gold medals.
Ric made his decision some weeks ago, but said he had been considering stepping down for a couple of years. "Six years is as long as you should do this job," he said, and explained that he wanted to give more time to his wife, children and grandchildren. "Being a national coach takes huge commitment. You are away from home for three months a year, and when you are away with the team it is a 24/7 job."
Cam Vale, the chief executive officer of Hockey Australia said "Ric's life working as an elite athlete coach, federal politician and doctor is remarkable. He is without doubt one of the greatest coaches in Australian sporting history. The board and I were keen for Ric to continue beyond the Commonwealth Games, but my best powers of persuasion were unsuccessful."
One of the trademarks of Ric's coaching style has been the flexibility of his approach. Under his coaching, players could play a number of roles on pitch, and he was a great advocate of mentally working out problems on the pitch. "To me goal-scoring is a puzzle to be worked out. That's what makes the game so interesting."
With Australia the number one ranked men's team going into the Rabobank Hockey World Cup, Ric could ask for no sweeter ending to his career than one more World Cup gold medal.
