Pakuranga College director of Sport Clive Daniels has been named coach of the year at the 2022 Auckland hockey prize giving.
Daniels had a successful stint coaching the Auckland men’s hockey team at the National Hockey Championship in Dunedin this past September, just missing out on a 3rd place finish.
Alongside the Auckland men’s team, Daniels is also the head coach at the Howick Pakuranga hockey club, where he has been for 11 years, and runs the Pakuranga College 1st XI side.
“The award does mean a lot and shows that Auckland hockey values what I’m doing at the moment which is the most important thing,” says Daniels.
The Howick Pakuranga hockey club was also awarded the Men’s club of the year title, which can be attributed mostly to Daniels.
“When I started coaching at Howick Pakuranga, they were the bottom team… We put a plan together and within two years we won the competition,” he says.
In recognition of Daniels service to the Howick Pakuranga Hockey Club, he was awarded a life membership this year.
“It means the world to me… I was quite surprised because all the other life members have been there for 25-30 years, but I’ve only been there for 10,” he says.
“To me however, I get more satisfaction from building up a programme and seeing people succeed than from any award”.
Throughout his coaching career, Daniels has rubbed shoulders with some of the best coaches and players in the world.
New Zealander Shane McLeod, who has coached that national Belgium hockey side to World Cup and Olympic games medals and is rated one of the best coaches in the world, is now mentoring Daniels at Auckland hockey.
“Coming from a background where I only picked up a hockey stick when I was 13, I’m very fortunate to be in a situation now where I’m able to work with these high-calibre people,” Daniels says.
Daniels says his secret to success is his growth mindset as a coach and prioritising the importance of a good team culture.
“For me, anything I do in sport has got to do with building character. Good people become good athletes, that’s the secret,” he says.
Daniels says there are a few things that make a good culture – character, dedication, and talent.
“If you have those in the wrong order, people get big heads and they don’t gel together as a team.
“I enjoy what I’m doing now, coaching at this level. I don’t apply for positions because the minute you do that it becomes a job, it’s a chore, I think you lose enjoyment when it becomes a job,” says Daniels.
“I’m still learning a lot, it’s a growth mindset. If you put the good processes in place, success will come.”
