Hackett to transform Irish athletics

BRENDAN HACKETT, a well known figure in Irish sport, has been selected as the Chief Executive of the Athletics Association of Ireland.

Last night the Executive of the AAI approved the appointment, thereby rubber stamping the most significant appointment in the history of Irish athletics.

The appointment of a Chief Executive was singled out as the critical factor in the development of the sport when the need for restructuring was highlighted.

An interim CEO was appointed at the direction of the Irish Sports Council and Gary Owens has been putting the structures in place and selling the new format-come-formula to grassroots level. He's had a number of meetings with county boards around the country and the membership will be asked to approve of the Strategic Plan at a Congress in Portlaoise early in December.

He will be central to the implementation of that plan and will have a major role to play in the development of the sport, which will include the appointment of a Director of Coaching.

Since graduating from Thomond College in 1983, he has been involved in many aspects of the fitness industry, primarily as an owner of private health clubs and, more recently, managing corporate fitness facilities.

In recent years he has been better known for his sports consultancy work. Following the completion of his Masters Degree in Sports Psychology, he began advising many of the country's top sports people and a number of teams, and today he is one of Ireland's most prominent sports psychologists and coaches.

He began coaching Gaelic football at college and was appointed manager of the Longford football team in 1987 at the age of 26. He subsequently managed Offaly and coached the Irish Compromise Rules team that successfully toured Australia in 1990. He was also involved Roscommon.

He retired from football management to concentrate on sports psychology but soon became involved in coaching athletics, where he is best known for his involvement with James Nolan, Maria Lynch and Noel Cullen.

He introduced a whole new area to middle distance running in this country when he set up the Irish Milers Club and, apart from providing extra competition, the IMC hosted a special night for Roger Bannister to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the first sub four minute mile last year.

A member of Donore Harriers, he still competes at club level. He is a regular contributor to Irish Runner Magazine and has also written a book aptly titled "Success from Within."