Latest news from Loughborough University
21 October 2008 - PR 08/150
Hockey Olympian Bleby joins Loughborough’s coaching ranks
Olympic hockey player Jon Bleby has joined Loughborough University’s coaching team as assistant men’s hockey coach.
The Loughborough graduate, who in Beijing helped Britain to its best Olympic result since the 1980s, takes up his role with immediate effect alongside head coach David Ralph. Bleby was a student at Loughborough from 1999 to December 2007, completing both a degree in Sport and Exercise Science and a Masters in Sport Science whilst playing at the highest level of his sport. After graduating 10 months ago he trained full time in preparation for the Beijing Games.
In his role as assistant coach Bleby will lead the 1st XI BUCS (formerly BUSA) programme, in which Loughborough’s men are reigning champions. He has previously coached at the University as interim women’s coach and men’s second team coach in the same year the men won the BUSA Trophy.
“This is the perfect job for me,” said Bleby. “I’ve always enjoyed coaching and already have some experience of it at Loughborough where I have played for almost 10 years.
“I’m Loughborough through and through so I’m really
pleased to become assistant coach. I hope to use my experience to be a
good role model for the younger players and coaching-wise I want to
pass my knowledge on to the squads.”
Bleby joins the University’s impressive performance sport coaching
team which includes current
and former international players in many of its sports.
– Ends –
For all media enquiries contact:
Amanda Overend
Sport PR Officer
Loughborough University
T: 01509 228686
E: A.J.Overend@lboro.ac.uk
Notes for editors:
- View Jon’s Olympic profile at http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/AthleteProfile.aspx?id=6718
- Free of charge photos are available of Jon. Please
contact me (details above) for copies.
- Loughborough is one of the country’s leading
universities, with an international reputation for excellence in teaching
and research, strong links with industry and unrivalled sporting achievement.
It is a member of the esteemed 1994 Group – a set of internationally recognised, research intensive universities – and has a reputation for the relevance of its work. Its degree programmes are highly regarded by professional institutions and businesses, and its graduates are consistently targeted by the UK’s top recruiters.
Loughborough is also the UK’s premier university for sport. It has perhaps the best integrated sports development environment in the world and is home to some of the country’s leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff. It also has the country’s largest concentration of world-class training facilities across a wide range of sports.
In the 2007 National Student Survey, the University was voted fourth in the UK, with 23 out of 29 of Loughborough’s subject areas being ranked in the top ten for overall satisfaction. Loughborough is also ranked in the top fifteen of UK universities in national league tables. It was named winner of the 2006 and 2007 Times Higher award for the UK’s Best Student Experience and winner of the 2007 award for Outstanding Support for Overseas Students. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes – an achievement bettered by no other university.