LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Toby Platt today was named head coach of the Bellarmine University field hockey team, athletic director Scott Wiegandt has announced.
 
"Toby quickly demonstrated his ability to make an impact with our student-athletes upon his hiring as the assistant coach last summer," Wiegandt said. "He brings invaluable international coaching experience and is adept at both technical and fundamental skill development. Most importantly, he gelled instantly with the players, building a unique rapport with the team."
 
Now the 11th head coach in program history, Platt was first hired at Bellarmine as the assistant coach in July after one season as an assistant coach at Division III Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
 
"I am incredibly excited to accept the position of head coach for the Bellarmine University field hockey team," said Platt. "I couldn't be more thrilled to lead this team into its next chapter. From the moment I stepped on campus, I could feel the passion and energy surrounding this program, and it's clear that we have something special here. I am confident that we will not only build a competitive team, but also foster a strong, unified culture that will make Bellarmine a significant legion in the overall landscape of collegiate field hockey."
 
In his first season on Newburg Road in 2024, Platt helped four Knights garner All-MAC notice. Anna Crump and Bente Moormann each earned All-MAC Second Team laurels while Skylar Sokal and Luna Tuncay were placed on the MAC All-Freshman Team.
 
A native of New Zealand, Platt boasts over a decade of international playing and coaching experience and a master's degree in sports and exercise science, specializing in high-performance sport. Platt also holds a Level 1 coaching certification from the International Field Hockey Federation.
 
At Rhodes, he helped the Lynx to a 14-4 overall record in 2023 and a Southern Athletic Association tournament championship.
 
Since July 2022, Platt has been the assistant coach for the New Zealand Women's O35 Masters Hockey team, focusing on pressing strategies to enhance defensive efficiency and overall team performance in national and international tournaments. Platt also served as the head coach for the U18 women at the Taranaki Hockey Federation from 2021 to 2023.
 
Platt has had an impressive playing career, representing various age groups nationally and competing in premier club hockey in both Waikato and Taranaki, New Zealand since 2015. Most recently, in 2022, he played for the Taranaki Senior Men's Team and the NZ Heritage Barbarians. Toby also made two final appearances with New Plymouth Old Boys, winning the 2022 season and finishing as runners-up in 2023. As a player-coach, he was awarded Club Coach of the Year with Suburbs Piako, contributing significantly to the club's competitiveness in the Waikato competition. Toby's leadership and on-field experience have played a key role in the development of players at all levels, fostering a strong team culture and solidifying his reputation as both a respected coach and player.
 
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