NEW Director of Hockey Jonny Caren has set the bar high in his ground breaking role at Pegasus.
The key coaching appointment has been brought in to restore the famous old club to the heights of their past glory days.
And his avowed aim is to build Pegasus into the No1 club side in Ireland within five years.
The recruitment of Carryduff man Caren, an internationally respected coach with over two decades of experience at the elite level of the game, including working with the Scottish men’s national team as head coach, is being seen in Ulster and Ireland hockey circles as a huge statement of intent by Pegasus.
And Caren is determined to live up to the club’s raised expectations.
The one-time serial winners and regular European competitors narrowly missed out on a finals weekend spot last season… and once a production line for the Irish international team, Pegasus currently provide only one player to Gareth Grundie’s senior squad.
Caren’s role will be to oversee player development pathways, coaching structures, community engagement and performance strategies across the club’s 14 teams comprising 300 players from the EY All Ireland League down to junior level.
It will be back to the future in the beginning of the process of change, as he explains: “Firstly we need to ensure all our players, from the age group teams upwards, understand the culture and history of the club; what made Pegasus so successful in the past and our desire to recreate that level of achievement.
“We have to get it right from the ground up and it will be an exciting challenge for all involved.
“With four Ulster teams in EY All Ireland League 1 next season, we now face competition for talent, not only from within our own sport but from other fast-growing sports like women’s football and ladies gaelic football.”
Caren’s main coaching role will be with the senior side and he acknowledged: “On the playing side, we will be working on improving athleticism and fitness levels.
“I realise that is a big ask for players with school and work commitments but hockey players have always been generous with their time. It comes from their love of the game which goes to the heart of their involvement.”
Reiterating the mission statement that accompanied his appointment, he insisted: “Pegasus has always been a benchmark in Irish hockey and I look forward to the opportunity to shape a holistic hockey programme and to support the club’s players and coaches across all stages of development.
“What is my ultimate aim? To make Pegasus the No1 club in Ireland, of course.”
Jonny Caren and club official and former player Lynsey Feeney
