Thomas van Hees | Academy Coach | Wānaka Academy
Thomas has been with the Olé x Wanaka Academy since mid 2021 and has recently joined the team full-time. Originally from Sassenheim, the Netherlands, he and his wife embarked on a journey to explore the world after he completed a Sport Management degree in The Hague. They traveled through Asia and Australia before settling in Wanaka in 2017, and they welcomed a new addition to their family in late 2021.
During his time in Central Otago, Thomas worked in the football environment for four years, gaining a strong understanding of the region’s football landscape and building valuable relationships. He has also been involved with Wanaka AFC, our partner club, in developing a pathway from junior to senior levels. Thomas remains committed to making a difference in the Wanaka community and continuing the Ole X Wanaka partnership. He is on his way to becoming an OFC/NZF B-license coach and an NZF Level 1 Coach Developer, with a focus on player and coach development.
Thomas finds teaching the game in this beautiful part of the world particularly rewarding, and his coaching philosophy is heavily influenced by his upbringing in the Netherlands. One of his favourite quotes, by Johan Cruyff, is: “You can’t not see it until you understand it.”
