Fair City coach takes top Scots curling role

Nov 14 2006

EXPERIENCED Perth coach Derek Brown has been unveiled as successor to Mike Hay – and his number one task is to nurture a medal winning Olympic rink.

The Scottish Institute of Sport, in partnership with British Curling and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC), agreed Brown, pictured, was the ideal candidate for the vacant SIS head curling coach post and British curling performance director hot seat.

His main role will be to lead the delivery of world class plans for curling in the build up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, as well as the European Youth Olympics in 2009.

Working closely with UK Sport and the British Olympic Association, Brown has been tasked with nurturing young curling talent in the long term and supporting existing team members to achieve their goals.

Commenting on his new role, Brown said: “I am looking forward to using my skills and experience to inspire the athletes and teams to achieve world class performances.

“It is a real pleasure to be joining an organisation which has so many experts on hand to ensure that the athletes are in the best possible position to achieve our goals.”

With an excellent track record through two Olympic Games and numerous World and European Championships, Brown emerged as the strongest candidate to succeed long-time colleague Mike Hay, having spent the past three years coaching the Olympic team with the British Curling Association.

He also played a key role in developing the team which won bronze at the European Championships in 2005, secured fourth place at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and gold at the World Championships in April 2006.

In addition to supporting the senior teams, he will be responsible for developing the Olympic Futures programme.

This programme aims to fast-track curlers who have been identified as having great potential, looking ahead to the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, in an effort to ensure Scottish curling continues to build on past successes.

Colin Grahamslaw from the RCCC commented: “We are delighted to welcome Derek on board.

“He brings to the post a wealth of experience through two Olympic cycles and working with many of our top teams.

“While in replacing Mike Hay he has a tough act to follow, we believe he can build on the legacy left and take the sport forward to more medal success in the coming years.”

Marty Aitken, performance director at the Scottish Institute of Sport added: “We are delighted to be able to appoint another home-grown coach of such a high standard.

“Derek knows the system intimately and will carry on the good work of his predecessor, to take us to even greater highs.”

Departing Mike Hay, Olympic performance director and former head coach at the Institute, concluded: “Having worked with Derek as Olympic team coach for a number of years, I am confident that he will drive the programme forward and look forward to working with him leading up to Vancouver 2010.”