Toby Platt was named the 11th head coach in Bellarmine University field hockey history on March 14, 2025.
Platt joined the Bellarmine field hockey staff as an assistant coach in July 2024. In his first season on Newburg Road, he 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.
Platt came to Bellarmine after one season as an assistant coach at Division III Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., where he helped the Lynx to a 14-4 overall record and a Southern Athletic Association tournament championship.
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.
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 2022 to 2023. Other previous coaching stops include Sacred Heart Girls College (New Plymouth, NZ high school), 1st XI head coach (2022-2023), Thames Valley Hockey Association Lead Coach (2020-2023), Suburbs Piako Premier men's head coach (2020-21), Waikato Hockey Association development coach (2019-21), Waikato University Hockey Club Premier Reserve men's head coach (2018-19), Midlands Hockey assistant strength and conditioning coach (2018-19) and Hamilton Boys' High School 1st XI head strength and conditioning coach (2018-19).Â
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.
