About Kerry
Meet Your Coach - Kerry Hill
With a lifelong passion for physical literacy, speed, and agility, Kerry began coaching athletes while still competing himself. By 25, he was the youngest coach among his peers, and his career soon expanded into teaching, national coaching leadership, and international roles across Asia and the Middle East. Along the way, he’s learned from some of the world’s most respected coaches — gathering not just technical knowledge, but wisdom through global conversations, conferences, and decades of hands-on experience. His coaching style blends science, instinct, and the belief that with the right support, any athlete can find their edge.
Kerry Hill’s coaching philosophy is grounded in empathy, growth, and deep respect for the journey. A self-described observer of the underdog, Kerry knows firsthand that greatness isn’t always found on the podium — it’s found in progress. As someone who once came last in a school race and went on to place 7th at a World Cup, he believes in the power of persistence, small changes, and never underestimating those who don’t yet stand in the spotlight.
From coming last in the Waimea College 100 yards, then…
To Kerry coming 7th in the World Cup.
Cross-Sport Expertise
Over his career, Kerry has consulted and coached across a wide range of sports, from grassroots to elite level. His ability to adapt conditioning, speed, and agility principles across different codes and age groups gives him a unique competitive edge.
Sports and organisations Kerry has worked with include:
Netball – Northern Force
Rugby League – The Warriors speed & agility trainer, two seasons; co-authored with national speed and strength manuals
Gymnastics – New Zealand Gymnastics, Speed for NZ Gymnastics Commonwealth Games team squad 1990
Cricket – Auckland Cricket and Northern Districts Cricket
Speed Climbing – Two Paris Olympians and the World U20 Champion 2024
Muay Thai – U75kg World Champion, female, 2022
Football – International Footballer, USA Scholarship holder, NZ Schools 200m finalist
Hockey – Specialist sessions, Acceleration Consultant to Youth Hockey Squads
Softball – Nelson Rep Team as player and consultant, Nelson senior reps pitcher while still at college; coach to high school NZ champions
Rugby – From primary school through to Olympic Sevens athletes
- Surf Life-Saving – Beach sprints
Kerry’s broad experience across multiple sports and all stages of athlete development — from young beginners to seasoned professionals — ensures every athlete benefits from tailored, high-performance coaching built on decades of insight.
Training with Kerry was my favourite part of the day - through this I learnt to push through obstacles and that the reward is found in the journey.
Helen Lowes
Coaching Achievements
Coached five of New Zealand’s ten fastest male sprinters.
Coached nine Olympians.
Worked with athletes who achieved gold and silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Sevens Rugby.
Winner of the Arthur Eustace Award for coaching excellence.
- Colgate Children’s Athletics Scholarship winners
Coaching Qualifications & Experience
World Athletics
- Level 3 Coaching Certificate
- Lecturer and Instructor to Lecturers.
- Diploma of National Coaching Development Director, Moscow 2011
World Rugby
Level 1 Coaching
Athletics NZ
- Level 3 sprints, hurdles, jumps.
- Level 2 throws.
- Original editor of basic Run, Jump, Throw manual and video
Rugby Coach, Westlake BHS 1st XV
North Harbour Roller Mills (primary), Northern Region Secondary/ Schools – National Tournament Winners 1986 – 1988.
Qualified Primary & Secondary Teacher
Sports Master & H.O.D. PhysEd, Westlake Boys High School, Auckland.
ISAK Level 1 - Kinanthropometry
Kinanthropometry is the scientific study of human size, shape, proportion, composition, maturation, focusing on how these aspects relate to human movement, growth, exercise, and performance.
Other Sports
- Started Softball at Westlake BHS, won NZ Schools title 1983
- Speed Climbing – Julian David, World U20 Champion and Olympian 2024
Head Coach
Olympics, World Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Juniors, World Universities, Asian Games.
Awards
Nationally and internationally recognised for his contribution to coaching and athlete development.
2023 Arthur Eustace Award for Athletics Coaching NZ
An annual recognition to a coach for a lifetime achievement award.
Prime Minister’s Scholarship
Awarded a Prime Minister’s Scholarship to study international relay coaching — leading to site visits and communication with relay coaches across 23 countries.