Gary Stead steps down as New Zealand coach after successful seven-year stint
World Test Championship-winning head coach Gary Stead has decided to step away from New Zealand Cricket to bring to an end one of the most successful periods in the country's history. Since taking over in 2018, Stead has helped make the Kiwis a regular in the business stage of global tournaments.
New Zealand Cricket will need to seek a new head coach to take over from Gary Stead after the 53-year-old's decision to bow down as the most successful head coach in the country's history. Since Stead took over from Mike Hesson in 2018, he has helped the BlackCaps evolve into forces to be reckoned with in all-three formats of the game, and ended a 21-year trophy drought by securing the World Test Championship in 2021. Stead had previously decided to step down in just the white-ball formats but NZC was inclined to have the same coach across the board, thus ending Stead's reign.
"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. Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson had left the team with strong values and a style of play, and I've just tried to build and shape that further to grow our ability to be consistent in everything we do," Stead said after stepping down.
Until the 2024 T20 World Cup, New Zealand had never been eliminated in the group stages of a global tournament under Stead and grew a reputation as perennial black horses. Stead coached the Kiwis to at least the finals in all four major ICC events -- the WTC (2021), T20 World Cup (2021), ODI World Cup (2019), and Champions Trophy (2025). However, perhaps the crowning legacy of Stead's time as NZ coach came in a bilateral Test series against India, where they became the first team to whitewash the Men in Blue in their own backyard and snapped their 12-year unbeaten streak at home in the process.
"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. To work alongside some of New Zealand's best cricketers and have had a ringside seat to every training and match has been very special and an absolute honour. For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game," Stead said.
"I am grateful to all those that have helped and supported me during my time, especially to my wife Rachel and children Alex and Libby who have sacrificed much. I also want to pay special thanks to NZC, and in particular all of the support staff I have worked with who are hands-on with the team and in the thick of things day-in and day-out. I'd like to wish the new coach well and the team every success in the future."
Stead confirmed that he is far from retired, and will look to add to his coaching CV that also includes four domestic titles with Canterbury and two ICC finals with the NZ women's team.
"I'll initially take some time to refresh and recharge, but 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."
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