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Jay Stacy, legendary Australian hockey star, becomes head coach of Vedanta Kalinga Lancers for the revived HIL, replacing Valentin Altenburg for the upcoming 2026 season.
Australian hockey legend Jay Stacy, back in the day (Instagram)
Legendary Australian hockey star Jay Stacy has been appointed as the new head coach of Vedanta Kalinga Lancers for the upcoming season of the Hockey India League (HIL), which was revived earlier this year.
The 57-year-old replaces German coach Valentin Altenburg, who guided the team in the previous campaign.
Decorated Playing Career
Stacy is one of Australia’s most celebrated hockey players, having made 321 international appearances for the Kookaburras between the late 1980s and 2000. He was part of the side that won three Olympic medals — silver at Barcelona 1992, bronze at Atlanta 1996, and bronze again on home soil at Sydney 2000.
His achievements also include gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and victory at the 1999 Champions Trophy. When he retired in 2000, Stacy held the record as Australia’s most capped international player.
Coaching Journey Across Continents
After retirement, Stacy seamlessly transitioned into coaching. Over the years, he has worked across clubs and domestic circuits in Australia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. He also had a stint in the HIL as head coach of the Mumbai franchise during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Most recently, Stacy served as the head coach of the Australian junior team from 2022 onwards, where he was credited with nurturing young talent and preparing the next generation of Kookaburras.
Return to the Hockey India League
Speaking about his new assignment, Stacy expressed his excitement at returning to India and to the HIL.
“I am excited to begin a new chapter with Vedanta Kalinga Lancers and am thrilled to be returning to the Hockey India League, which has evolved significantly since my earlier stint. I am sure this will be another exciting experience for me,” he said in a statement.
The next edition of the Hockey India League is tentatively scheduled to be held in January–February 2026.
(with PTI inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
September 16, 2025, 13:59 IST
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