Choose coaches properly and results will follow

Auckland-based professor of sport Robin McConnell believes some of the New Zealand Olympic sports wondering where their first medal in Sydney is going to come from could learn some lessons from Auckland Cricket.

McConnell believes there is a woeful record in New Zealand sport over the selection of coaches.

"We don't select coaches well. We don't put coaches through the same scrutiny that we do for administrators," he said.

The writer of the in-depth behind-the-scenes story of rugby's All Blacks, Inside the All Blacks; McConnell is part of the Auckland Cricket Association's selection panel.

That, and his work with students on research assignments, has allowed him an inside look at the methodology sports employ in their interviews of coaches.

Whenever sports bodies advertise for coaches he has students write away for information and comparisons are made between the various sports over what they want of their coaches.

From what he has seen McConnell believes there is still not enough done by sports bodies towards getting their selections right.

In recent history Auckland has had an impressive run of success with its candidates.

David Trist is now the New Zealand team coach. Queensland's John Buchanan was interviewed as a replacement and was snapped up by Australia. South Australian Jeff Hammond was interviewed as a replacement but taken by Glamorgan.

Former Central Districts coach Tony Sail was then appointed and did well enough in his first season to be retained.

McConnell said that in the interview process some candidates showed themselves to be strong in technical areas while others were weak in the area of player relationships.

Some coaches didn't keep individual records of their players, discussions they had with the players and short and longer term goals the players had.

He said it was also interesting to compare the selection methods of Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby. Auckland Cricket produced a two or three-page booklet on its mission and philosophies and what would be required of its coaches.

Auckland Rugby's first requirement was for the coach appointed to be able to please the team sponsors.

McConnell believes the latter was entirely the wrong approach.

Auckland Cricket's approach to the coaching question has resulted in it looking to develop a bridge between Level II coaching and the provincial Auckland Aces standard in a bid to have more highly qualified coaches within the region.

"I believe the next Auckland coach will have to come from Auckland, and will have to have completed the course," he said.

McConnell's interest in the whole coaching spectrum has resulted in him publishing a book on the subject that is due to be released next month.