WAIS announces new Athletics Performance Manager appointment

The Western Australian Institute of Sport has announced that its former throws coach Grant Ward has been appointed to the role of WAIS Athletics Performance Manager.

The newly created position, which is part of a strategic alignment between WAIS, Athletics WA and Athletics Australia, will see Ward working closely with partners across all levels of the sport’s high performance system to help attain peak performance outcomes for Western Australian track and field talent.

Ward is well respected figure within the industry, having led javelin thrower Kim Mickle to a World Championship silver medal in Moscow in 2013, in addition to having been appointed as a team coach with the Australian Flame at all major competition levels.

WAIS Performance Team Director - Podium, Jo Richards said Ward would bring a strong local knowledge of the sport along with great passion for its purpose, advising “we are thrilled for Grant that he has acquired the role after the WAIS throwing program was closed recently.

“Grant brings a high level of experience to the role and together with the local coaches and the team of dedicated WAIS athletics service providers, he will help to create a world class athletics environment.

"The Athletics Performance Manager role will provide best practice advice, system support management to state and national athletics coaches with the goal of enhancing the performances of Australian athletes.

"His interactions will be with current WAIS/NASS scholarship holders and their coaches, as well as working locally in the WA environment to assist up and coming talent and their coaches, as well as providing strategic advice to the national system.”

Athletics Australia’s Head of Performance and Coaching - Christian Malcolm said Ward’s appointment would add to an existing strong partnership between the state institute, state sporting organisation and the peak national body.

Malcolm added “the recruitment process for the Athletics Performance Manager at WAIS was thorough and we’re delighted that Grant will continue to provide an influential role for the sport out in the west.

"He has not only coached elite talent at Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games level, but has also developed an intimate knowledge of the relationship between all partners in the Athletics Australia high performance landscape.

"He's highly regarded by coaches and athletes alike and he'll bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.

“We know that there's a lot of existing quality within the WA track and field environment and we look forward to working closely with Grant, to continue to maximise the state's contribution towards Australia's performance outcomes at development and senior levels.”

Ward will begin his role at WAIS tomorrow - Monday 26th August.

Image: Ward with Kim Mickle in 2013. Courtesy of the WAIS.