Mark Tumilty has confirmed he is stepping down as head coach of the Ireland senior men's hockey team after serving for seven years in the position.
In announcing his decision, Tumilty stated that Neville Rothman should assume responsibility for guiding the squad forward.
Rothman, who hails from Banbridge, was previously appointed to an interim coaching role in September 2019 before being granted a full-time appointment thirteen months later.
The South African has agreed to serve as the new interim head coach while Hockey Ireland initiates its recruitment process for Tumilty's permanent successor.
Tumilty's tenure concluded following a significant setback at the Tokyo Olympics, where Ireland lost on penalties after conceding a disputed goal in the final minutes of play.
Despite that outcome, the squad successfully qualified for the Paris Games in 2024, marking a major achievement during his time in charge.
Other notable successes included two seasons competing in the FIH Pro League and promotion to the top division of the EuroHockey Championships.
The squad also recorded a top-ten finish at this year's World Cup before many players retired from international hockey following the failure to qualify for Tokyo.