7
ULSTER
RUGBY
NEIL DOAK NAMED NEW
ULSTER HEAD COACH
Doak has an almost 20 year association
with the Province. He made his debut as a
player in 1995 against Northern Transvaal
and went on to make 76 appearances for
Ulster before retiring in 2005.
A talented all round sportsman, he also won
32 international caps for Ireland at cricket.
He began coaching while still a player,
becoming an Ulster Branch development
officer in 2000.
Following his retirement he worked with
Academy players as a high performance
coach.
He led the Ulster U19, U20 and ‘A’ sides and
was quickly promoted to the senior set-up
where he took up a role as elite player
development officer.
He became backs coach in 2009 and is
credited with transforming Ulster Rugby into
one of the most potent attacking sides in
Europe.
His coaching ability was recognised by
Ireland in the summer of 2013 when he
joined Les Kiss and now Munster Head
Coach, Antony Foley, in leading the Ireland
international side on their summer tour of
North America.
This summer he and Connacht’s Dan
McFarland coached Emerging Ireland to
victory in the IRB Nations Cup in Romania.
Commenting on his appointment, Neil Doak
said: “I am extremely proud to have been
appointed as Ulster’s Head Coach and
to have been given this opportunity is a
fantastic honour for me.
Ulster Rugby is delighted to announce that Neil Doak has
been appointed as the Province’s new Head Coach, with
immediate effect, until at least the summer of 2017.
“I played all my rugby at Ulster and I have
coached here now for more than 14 years.
I am proud to be from this Province and my
aim over the next three seasons is to get the
best out of our players and to help deliver
success.”
Ulster’s Chief Executive, Shane Logan,
said: “In looking for a new Head Coach we
sought someone with passion, integrity and
the ability to drive Ulster forward. Neil has all
those qualities in abundance.
“I am extremely pleased that someone
who has invested so much into rugby in the
Province has now earned the right to be the
Head Coach of the senior team.
“We consulted widely on the best candidate
for this role and no matter who we asked,
whether it was players, management or
staff, the same answer kept being given –
the best person to be Head Coach at Ulster
Rugby is Neil Doak.
“Over the past four seasons we have
improved continuously and Neil has
been instrumental in that growth. I have
absolutely no doubt that he will be hugely
successful in the coming years.”
COACHING ANNOUCEMENT
