Welsh Athletics will this month launch a hunt for a new Head of Coaching and Performance after Scott Simpson announced his departure from the top role.
Having overseen the preparations for two Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow in 2014 and Gold Coast earlier this year, Simpson is moving to a new job as National Performance Institute Senior Coach (Pole Vault) with British Athletics.
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and the direction we’re now heading in. I’ll take away fond memories of working with some fantastic people, and some personal highlights include coaching Sally Peake to a silver medal in Glasgow 2014,” said Simpson.
“I’m looking forward to being able to spend more time coaching and applying my passion for the pole vault to this new role. I won’t be able to resist keeping an eye on how all the athletes and coaches I’ve been privileged to work with here in Wales, perform in the coming years.”
Seventh at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the pole vault, Simpson is still ranked third on the Welsh all-time list with a 5.41 metre clearance. He was the Welsh indoor champion four times, setting a championship best of 5.35 metres in 2007, and crowned outdoor champion in 2006 and 2010.
Since finishing his competitive career, the former Birchfield Harrier has become the leading pole vault coach in the UK. He guided Welsh vaulter Sally Peake to a Commonwealth silver medal four years ago and is also coach to British No 1 Holly Bradshaw.
He was Director of Athletics at UWIC from 2008 – 2010 and the Jumps coach for Welsh Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He held the same post with the British team at the 2011 World University Games.
In 2015 he was the GB Team Coach at the European Team Championships and again at the World Championships in Beijing. He was also Team Coach (Pole Vault) at the 2016 Olympic Games.
“Scott’s legacy includes leading performance and coach development structures, which will provide a consistent environment to develop our talented athletes and coaches,” said Welsh Athletics CEO, Matt Newman.
“It’s been a real pleasure working with Scott over the past six years. His passion, integrity and dedication to the role has set the foundations for the future stars of Welsh Athletics. We wish him well in his new role and success at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”