Gary Stead, New Zealand’s former head coach, has accepted a high performance coaching role with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) where he will be tasked with developing supporting players and coaches, along with the high performance programmes.
Stead had recently completed an eight-year stint as head coach of New Zealand earlier this year. In a successful period for the team, he guided New Zealand to the World Test Championship in 2021 and also oversaw the team’s historic whitewash of India last year. Notably, New Zealand also reached the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021, the ICC ODI World Cup in 2019 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Stead has been involved with NZC for the past 34 years which includes his playing career where he featured in five Tests for the country. Having also appeared in over 100 First-Class and List A games, Stead then moved on to various coaching roles. His first stint as a coach was as a coach development manager (2004-09), before becoming an assisted coach at the NZC Academy (2005-06).
He then took up roles as head coach with the New Zealand women’s team from 2009 to 2012 before being appointed as Canterbury’s director of cricket for the next six years. After his hard work over the years, he was handed over the reins of the New Zealand men’s team in 2018.
Stead said that he still had the desire to keep contributing to the game and was eager to provide his skills to the wider cricket network.
“New Zealand cricket’s very much been at my heart for the past 30 odd years and to be able to keep contributing to the game I love is really special,” he said.
“I’m still passionate about coaching and trying to help people learn and improve. If I can pass on some of my skills and experiences to the wider cricket network and in turn help the Blackcaps and White Ferns win on the world stage – then that would be really satisfying.”
Stead was recently appointed as the head coach of Indian domestic side Andhra for the 2025-26 edition of the Ranji Trophy, and he was appreciative of the NZC for allowing him to work outside the organisation to develop his skills further.
“I’m also appreciative of the opportunity to work outside of NZC to broaden my skills and experiences and hopefully I can bring what I learn back into our cricket environment.”
