Jude Menezes announced as new Head of Hockey at Auckland Hockey!

Auckland Hockey is delighted to announce the staffing appointment of Jude Menezes as our new Head of Hockey.

As Head of Hockey, Jude will be leading our Hockey Department, ensuring our various programmes and pathways meet the needs of Auckland Hockey’s community, representative and high performance hockey stakeholders.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to take on the Head of Hockey role at Auckland Hockey and am excited about the journey ahead. I am especially privileged to be back home with my family and contribute to hockey, while staying closely connected to what matters most” says Jude.

Jude has recently returned home to Auckland after completing his tenure as Head Coach with Sakura Japan (Women’s National team), guiding them to the Paris 2024 Olympic’s. He has also just completed his first Hockey India League tournament as Head Coach of Soorma Hockey Club women’s team, finishing second.

Including his recent success with Japan and Soorma Hockey Club, Jude brings over 10 years of international coaching experience, which involved multiple coaching roles with the Black Sticks Women. He is also a Level 5 FIH certified Hockey Educator, one of just a handful to be accredited to this level globally.

Jude brings a unique perspective with extensive experience across high performance hockey, as a player who represented India 133 times, and also in various coaching and manager roles. This is highlighted by four Olympic Games, three World Cup’s and three Commonwealth Games campaigns as a player or coach!

Auckland Hockey CEO James Sutherland says “we are extremely fortunate to be welcoming Jude home to Auckland after his recent Head Coaching roles with the Japan national women’s team and at Hockey India League. Having a person of Jude’s calibre and experience to lead our hockey department is going to provide huge benefit across our entire system, strengthening pathways from grassroots through to representative hockey”.

Jude has a long and successful history with Auckland Hockey too. Alongside having two sons heavily involved with school, club and Auckland representative hockey, Jude also coached the Auckland Women’s team from 2013-17, including two K-Cup titles in 2014 and 2015.

Jude adds, “having being involved with coaching in Auckland across school, multiple clubs, NHL, and my previous involvement with the National programme, I’m excited and eager to collaborate, renew and strengthen ties with stakeholders to keep growing hockey in Auckland”.

James adds, “as an accomplished player, coach and a FIH Level 5 coach developer, we will relish the opportunties that Jude will bring to our entire hockey community, who I’m sure will all join me in welcoming Jude back home to Auckland Hockey. We’re thrilled to have him bolster our staffing resource and strengthen our capability”.