New Zealand men’s cricket coach Gary Stead will officially end his successful seven-year tenure when his contract expires at the end of this month. Stead, who had already announced last month that he would be stepping down from white-ball coaching duties, is now set to depart entirely after New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed it will appoint a single head coach for all three formats going forward.
A Legacy of Historic Wins and Steady Leadership
Appointed in 2018, Stead leaves behind a legacy marked by consistent performance and historic milestones. Under his leadership, New Zealand clinched their first and only ICC Trophy — the inaugural ICC World Test Championship title in 2021. One of the standout moments of his tenure also came last year when the Blackcaps completed a rare and impressive 3-0 series sweep over India on their home soil — a feat no other team has achieved.
Stead guided the team to five ICC white-ball World Cup finals out of a possible six, and helped elevate the Blackcaps to the top spot in both the ICC Test and ODI rankings. Beyond the trophies and rankings, his influence on team culture and development has been widely praised. He is credited with bringing through a new wave of talent, introducing players such as Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Will O’Rourke into the national setup.
Reflecting on his time as coach, Stead described the role as a “privilege” and expressed gratitude to the team, support staff, and his family.
“There’s been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country, each other and for the fans,” Stead said.
Stead Reflects on Key Milestones and Future Plans
While the 2021 WTC title and the series win in India were clear highlights, Stead also noted the team’s resilience during and after the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup as a moment of immense pride.
He credited the strong foundation left by predecessors Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson and said his role was to build on that legacy — shaping a team that could consistently compete across all formats.
“It’s been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I’d like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the BLACKCAPS are a team that won’t fold and will always show the grit and determination to compete,” he said.
Stead also highlighted the challenges New Zealand faces as a smaller cricketing nation with limited resources but acknowledged the team’s remarkable consistency on the world stage. He gave special thanks to his family, NZC, and support staff, emphasizing their crucial role in his journey.
As for what’s next, Stead plans to take some time off to recharge but isn’t ruling out future coaching opportunities, either in New Zealand or overseas.
“I still have the coaching bug and will look to explore opportunities at home and abroad where I can look to share what I’ve learned from my 30 years of professional sport as a player and coach,” he said.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson paid tribute to Stead, praising his commitment, preparation, and character.
“Steady gave absolutely everything to the team,” Williamson said. “He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke.”
As the curtain closes on one of New Zealand’s most impactful coaching eras, Stead leaves with the admiration of his players and a proud chapter in the country’s cricketing history.
