Gareth Heyns returns to Jeppe as head coach
Jeppe High School for Boys has appointed Gareth Heyns as the school’s first-team hockey coach for 2026.
Heyns takes over the reins from Siya Sityana, who will be joining King Edward VII (KES)).
“Mr Heyns is a well-known, respected, and highly qualified coach who comes with a wealth of experience, both as a player and as a coach,” the school said in a social media post.
“He matriculated at Jeppe in 2009, having achieved full colours as captain of the 1st XI hockey team. He represented the 1st XI in over a hundred games and won the Boden, Alan Monk, and Aitken competitions. He also represented Southern Gauteng at every age group level.”
The former Jeppe scholar offers a wealth of experience, having also played for the South African men‘s team. He also competed at the Junior Africa Cup and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and played hockey in the United Kingdom, Germany, and New Zealand.
It will be his second time taking charge of the first team after a previous stint in 2016 and 2017. Back then, Heyns led the school to victories in the Aitken Cup.
“Mr Heyns says he is delighted to be returning home and, together with a well-established and experienced first team staff, all of whom are fulltime educators employed at the school, he aims to continue to build on the Jeppe Hockey Legacy,” the statement continued.
“Mr Craig Templeton returns as assistant coach of the 1st team, a role he held in 2024. Mr Lydon De Boer-Smit continues in his role as the 1st team manager, together with Mr Ruben Van Zyl as the strength and conditioning coach.
“With his rich playing and coaching pedigree and his deep understanding of and love for Jeppe hockey, we have full confidence that Mr Heyns and the 1st team coaching staff will continue to build on the outstanding Jeppe Hockey legacy and tradition of success,” the statement ended.
Click HERE to read the full statement.
