Gary Stead will officially step down as BLACKCAPS coach at the end of June, concluding a landmark seven-year tenure that has cemented him as arguably New Zealand’s most successful cricket coach. His departure follows NZC’s move to appoint a single head coach across all three formats, effectively ruling Stead out after he had already confirmed his exit from the white-ball roles last month.
Legacy of consistency and achievement
Stead’s era was defined by consistency, resilience, and historic triumphs. Under his leadership, New Zealand captured the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021, reached five ICC finals across formats, and became the first team to complete a 3-0 Test series sweep of India in 2025.
New Zealand also rose to #1 in ICC Test and ODI rankings under Stead’s stewardship and secured key series wins in the West Indies, Pakistan, and South Africa. His total record as head coach includes:
- Overall: 268 matches | 147 wins | 100 losses
- Tests: 52 matches | 27 wins
- ODIs: 97 matches | 56 wins
- T20Is: 119 matches | 64 wins
Player development and team culture
Stead is credited with rejuvenating the squad by introducing talents like Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, and Will O’Rourke. He maintained the core values established by Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson, while fostering a team culture built on grit, humility, and competitive fire.
Gary Stead: “There’s been some amazing memories… based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country, each other, and the fans.”
He cited the WTC win and the India series sweep as personal highlights, also praising the resilience shown by the squad during and after the heartbreaking 2019 World Cup final.
Tributes from leadership
BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson said Stead gave “absolutely everything” to the team and called him “one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke.”
Williamson: “He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best.”
NZC CEO Scott Weenink highlighted Stead’s role in elevating the national side:
Weenink: “His achievements, from the World Test Championship triumph to historic series wins abroad, have inspired the country and set a new benchmark for excellence in the New Zealand game.”
What’s next for Stead?
While Stead plans to take some time to recharge, he confirmed he still has “the coaching bug” and will explore opportunities domestically and overseas. He will remain involved in winter training camps to help prepare players for July’s tour to Zimbabwe.
Key BLACKCAPS milestones under Gary Stead (2018–2025)
- 2018 – First NZ Test series win in Pakistan since 1969
- 2019 – World Cup final runner-up on boundary count
- 2021 – Winners of the ICC World Test Championship
- 2021 – Runners-up in ICC T20 World Cup
- 2022 – First white-ball series wins in the West Indies
- 2022 – T20 World Cup semi-finalists
- 2023 – Cricket World Cup semi-finalists
- 2024 – First Test series win over South Africa
- 2025 – First-ever 3-0 Test sweep over India
- 2025 – ICC Champions Trophy runner-up
As New Zealand cricket enters a new chapter, Stead’s influence will continue to be felt through the players and culture he helped shape.
