Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Kalinga Lancers have roped in Australian legend Jay Stacy as the new head coach ahead of the upcoming Hockey India League season.
Stacy, who represented Australia in 321 international matches and four Olympic Games—winning three medals in 1992, 1996, and 2000—takes over from German coach Valentin Altenburg, who led the team last season.
“I am excited to begin a new chapter with Vedanta Kalinga Lancers and thrilled to return to the Hockey India League, which has evolved significantly since my earlier stint. The league taught me a lot as a coach, and I am sure this will be another exciting experience for me, both being back in India and working with such a wonderful franchise. I am grateful to Vedanta Kalinga for this opportunity and look forward to an exciting journey ahead,” Stacy said in a statement.
Stacy brings a wealth of experience as both player and coach. He won three Olympic medals with Australia (silver at Barcelona 1992, bronze at Atlanta 1996, and bronze at Sydney 2000), clinched gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, and secured the 1999 Champions Trophy.
The FIH named him Player of the Year in 1999. Stacy retired in 2000 as Australia’s most capped international player.
In his coaching career, Stacy has worked extensively across club and domestic circuits in Australia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. He also served as head coach of the Mumbai franchise during the 2016 and 2017 Hockey India League editions. Since 2022, he has led the Australian junior team.
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers thanked former head coach Valentin Altenburg for building and leading a strong squad.
Welcoming Stacy, Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, said, “We are delighted to welcome Jay to the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers family. He has achieved so much in his career and stands as one of the most respected and renowned figures in international hockey.
“A head coach of his stature will undoubtedly take our team to new heights and help us achieve our objectives—not only winning the coveted title but also nurturing players to excel in their careers.”
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