Uka Appoints New Performance Director

UKA has appointed Neil Black as its new performance director, with immediate effect, and will be tasked with finding a new Olympic head coach – following the resignation of Charles van Commenee earlier this week.

Mr. Black is set to play a key part in the team over the next Olympic cycle, having played a pivotal role in the success of Britain’s top athletes for 20 years.

Black has already worked closely alongside van Commenee and Paralympic head coach Peter Eriksson under the leadership of CEO Niels de Vos as part of UKA’s Olympic and Paralympic task force.

UKA chief executive Niels de Vos said: ‘Neil Black assuming the role of Performance Director is the culmination of succession planning we began when Charles first signed up as Olympic Head Coach on a four year deal in Beijing. Moving him from Head Physiotherapist into a general leadership role four years ago was done very much with this outcome in mind.’

‘He has been the ‘glue’ in the Olympic Task Force system I created, ensuring the right people, places and performance culture was in place to support the Head Coaches of the Olympic and Paralympic teams.’

Outgoing Olympic head coach Charles van Commenee added: ‘If I were ever CEO of a national athletics federation or even Olympic Association, Neil Black is the first guy I would call and try to hire.  I am one hundred per cent happy that he is the right man, within the right structures, to push on with the next phase of the ten year plan we devised together back in 2008.’

Neil Black commented: ‘It is an honour to be given the chance to lead the Olympic and Paralympic Task Force and be asked to lead colleagues with whom I have worked hand in glove for the last four years.  The performance team has worked hard to change the structures and cultures of our sport and I very much look forward to working in partnership with colleagues to build on the success of the last four years as we continue on our journey to 2017.’