Trish has been appointed Head of High-Performance programs and was Chef de Mission of the Irish Olympic Team for the 2020 Olympics.
Technically, Trish Heberle is a West Australian, but in fact she is a world traveler who utilises sport as her passport – and SA has partially claimed her for the profound lift she brought to women’s hockey.
Her triumph as a leader of both women and men’s hockey teams was essentially based on two things – her strategic analysis and knowledge of the game and outstanding communication skills.
When Trish Heberle spoke, everyone listened.
Her game knowledge was considered as ahead of its time. She understood the game and could teach and coach it with clarity and inspiration.
As such in the 1990s, she was appointed coach of both the men’s and women’s SASI programs and oversaw the introduction of Minkey to schools and overall junior development.
Standing at almost 2 metres, tall for a hockey player, young elite female players appreciated having a female coach – and one who was both smart and passionate.
Trish Heberle set about establishing a three-year plan for the Southern Suns in the national league.
With a team headed by Juliet Haslam and Alison Peek and inspired by a potency of enduring hunger for success and a growing confidence, Heberle raised performances each year.
In 1995 that plan culminated in a triumph not seen in SA for 70 years, a national hockey championship won outright for this state. And SA celebrated well.
Heberle had already played internationally when she came to SA and has since coached internationally with Australia and England,
She has been appointed Head of High-Performance programs and was Chef de Mission of the Irish Olympic Team for the 2020 Olympics.
