Craig Parnham named USA women's coach

The former Bridgnorth defender has left England Hockey to try to end the USA women's 29-year Olympic medal drought.

Parnham was assistant to Danny Kerry for almost six years and coached the Team GB women to bronze at London 2012.

But, after Kerry was appointed performance director at England Hockey, Bridgnorth-born Parnham has taken the position in California and will move next month.

He said: "This is a wonderful opportunity and a new challenge for me. I think Team USA has a great deal of potential and I look at this as an opportunity for me to come in and make a big impact.

"I am excited to get out on the pitch and start working with the players on the team."

Parnham played for Team GB at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and needed his larynx rebuilding after being hit in the throat by a stick in 2002.

He made 115 appearances for England and Great Britain before retiring after the 2004 Athens Olympics.

He coached the women's side at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and helped them rise from 11th in 2007 to fourth in the world this year.

They won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and silver at the Champions Trophy last February.

And Steve Locke, executive director of USA field hockey, claimed the 39-year-old was picked after a worldwide hunt.

He said: "We were fortunate to attract such strong candidates in our global search for a women's national team coach.

"We are very pleased to announce Craig has accepted our offer to become head coach and lead the women's program through to Rio in 2016.

"Craig is a brilliant choice and our search committee did a marvellous job."

Team USA finished 12th at London 2012 and haven't won a medal since bronze in the 1984 LA Games.

Kerry added: "This is one of those rare and exciting opportunities that many coaches dream of, the chance to join an ambitious team."