End of an Era: Gary Stead Bids Farewell to BLACKCAPS

Gary Stead, New Zealand's national coach, will leave the position at the end of the month following a seven-year stint.

During his tenure, he secured a World Test Championship (WTC) title, three global limited-overs final appearances, and a historic 3-0 Test series victory over India.

“There’ve been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country, each other, and for the fans,” Stead said.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) CEO Scott Weenink said: “Gary’s been an exceptional leader for the BLACKCAPS, elevating the team to the pinnacle of world cricket with remarkable consistency and courage,” Weenink said.

When Stead's contract expires at the end of the month, NZC is expected to select a single coach for all formats. The 53-year-old Stead had already resigned from his position as white-ball coach and had been given some time to think about his future with the Test team.

Since replacing Mike Hesson in 2018, Stead has had a significant impact on cricket in New Zealand. In 2019, Stead guided New Zealand to the ODI World Cup final, but they were defeated in a devastating boundary countback. After winning the 2000 ICC KnockOut (Champions Trophy), New Zealand's victory over India in the 2021 WTC final was their first international championship. 

During his tenure, New Zealand advanced to the 2021 T20 World Cup final, the 2025 Cricket World Cup final, two additional 2022 T20 World Cup semi-finals, and the 2023 Cricket World Cup final. Stead will spend his last four weeks as coach at the BLACKCAPS winter camps, assisting players in getting ready for the journey to Zimbabwe in July.