TIM HAMILL NAMED AUSSIE SHARKS HEAD COACH 

Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce Tim Hamill as the Head Coach of the Australian Men’s Water Polo Team, who will lead our men’s program through until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

Hamill, who most recently served as the Australian Olympic Team Assistant Coach in Tokyo, will take over the reigns from Elvis Fatovic, whom he worked alongside since 2013 in his numerous roles held with the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS). 

A former Australian Water Polo player himself, he comes to the role with extensive coaching experience having served as the NSWIS Head Coach of the Men’s program since 2017 as well as coaching at Club, State and National level.

Water Polo Australia CEO, Richard McInnes, said Tim’s extensive understanding of the Australian water polo landscape combined with his coaching experience, made him the perfect fit to lead a new era for the men’s program.

“On behalf of the Water Polo Australia Board, we would like to officially welcome Tim as the new Head Coach of the Australian Men’s team,” said McInnes. 

“Tim’s commitment in producing quality water polo players is demonstrated in the coaching roles he has held over the years from school age through to Australian Waterpolo League level as well as leading the NSWIS Men’s program for the last six years. 

“He formed a valuable part of the coaching team for the Aussie Sharks at the Tokyo Olympic Games which will provide a smooth transition for our squad as we look towards the Paris Olympics which are less than three years away. 

“For Water Polo Australia, we see this role as more than just about leading our senior men’s team, but rather collaboratively working with our whole network and system including the SIS/SAS network, our AWL Clubs as well as our National Age Group team coaches. Tim is eager and willing to work with the system to help grow our men’s program as we also work towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

“The next steps will be to work with Tim, to assemble a coaching and support network with complimentary skills, to take the Aussie Sharks program forward,” he said.

For Hamill, the opportunity to lead the men’s program won’t just be about Paris, but rather building towards 2032.

“It is a real honour to be appointed as a Head Coach of the Australian men’s program and I firstly want to thank all those coaches, in particular Elvis, who have come before me. 

“My vision for the program is to bring together the whole system from our playing group through to our State, AWL and National Age Program Coaches as well as former Aussie Sharks players.  We want to create one style of play for water polo in Australia that is taught from our junior programs through to our Olympic squads. 

“While there are challenges ahead, with reduced funding for our men’s program, I see it as a chance to look at how we do things differently and be innovative in our approach moving forward.

“Our top Australian player Aaron Younger, three time Olympian and three time Champions League winner, continues to lead the charge on the international stage, and is a real demonstration for the young people in our pathways of what can be achieved with plenty of hard work. 

“There will be a changing of the guard with our senior men’s program, but that in itself presents a great opportunity to bring in younger talent who have a passion and real desire to represent Australia at the Olympic Games.  

“I want to create a positive Aussie Sharks environment that players will want to be part of.  We want the 11 year old boy out there, who could be the next Aussie Sharks playing in front of a home crowd at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, to be inspired by our current squad. 

“I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and connecting with the playing group,” he said.