Hockey: Hager continues with Black Sticks

Mark Hager will continue as head coach of the Black Sticks Women. Photo / Natalie Slade.

Mark Hager will stay on as coach of the New Zealand women's hockey team after being overlooked for a role coaching the Australian men's team.

Hager had applied for the role, but Hockey Australia confirmed the former assistant coach, Graham Reid, as its new head coach today.

The Hockey New Zealand high performance director, Terry Evans, says he's pleased at being able to retain Hager and says they can now begin planning through to the Rio Olympics with certainty.

Hager started coaching the Black Sticks Women following the 2008 Beijing Olympics moving them from 12th ranked to their current world ranking of fourth.