Reggie Keates: A new face and a fresh identity for St Anne’s hockey
He’s a calm character, well-spoken, passionate about hockey, and has arguably one of the most interesting philosophies in the school game.
His name is Reggie Keates.
Keates has been tasked with taking St Anne’s Diocesan College hockey to the next level as the Director of the school’s programme and first-team coach.
He’s taken over the reins from Morné Odendaal, who has returned to C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein.
Acquiring the services of Keates is a major coup for St Anne’s. He brings an impressive CV and a wealth of experience to his position.
The South Africa-born coach spent the last 20 years leading and coaching at Millfield School in the United Kingdom (UK), a renowned sporting powerhouse.
During his tenure there, he coached the school’s boys’ and girls’ first teams before taking over as the Director of Hockey. He was also involved in club structures and England’s pathway systems.
Now that he has returned to South Africa, he intends to pass on the experience he gained abroad to the benefit of St Anne’s.
“As a coach, like a player, your coaching evolves through time and experiences,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“I was fortunate enough to be mentored by good coaches before I found my feet and my own way.
“The principle at the heart of my coaching is player development from a holistic perspective. I always want my players to be playing different sports because of the transferable skills that can be gained from them.
“I have also spent some time in Holland and America, learning and picking up on ideas that have contributed to me as a coach. I look to add that to my new role.”
Keates was born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal before leaving for the UK at the age of 18. Last year, when he returned to South Africa, he had a stint coaching at Hilton College, where he took charge of the u16A and second teams for about five weeks.
He and his family enjoyed their stay, and when the call came from St Anne’s, it felt too good an opportunity to turn down.
“I had an exchange programme in June last year, and I coached at Hilton College,” he shared. “My three young children were also at a nearby pre-primary. We spent the month here, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
“My children and wife had an amazing experience, and that initiated us exploring the possibility of a move. So, when Mrs Martin, the headmistress, got in touch, it was a no-brainer, and I suppose the rest is history.”
The former Millfield man will approach his role as director in an unorthodox manner. Before they chase results, he wants his players to understand his style of play and philosophy.
“I would say my philosophy is to maximise an individual’s potential,” he explained.
“If a player leaves St Anne’s and gets to university and plays for the love of the game, that’s fantastic. That’s as fantastic to me as our players who represent the province or South Africa.
“Our playing identity is fast and dynamic, and the way we play the game is more important than the actual result. I believe that if we stick to the fundamentals and concern ourselves with performance, the outcome will take care of itself.”
When it comes to building the St Anne’s hockey programme, Keates is adamant that his focus won’t just be on the 1st team. He’ll pour the same energy into the younger age groups.
“We’ve just gone through our pre-season assessment phase, and I have been really impressed.
“We have strength and depth going from grade eight right through to grade 12. There’s certainly talent here, and I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into it and developing the whole programme, not just the 1st team.
“The 1st team will be okay this season. They didn’t lose many players from last year.
“For me, it’s about sustainability and developing the whole programme so that you have sustainable success rather than short-term success.”
St Anne’s will kick off their season at the Our Lady of Fatima Coastal Hockey Festival on 6 March.
- DAY 1| VIDES| A compelling start as top guns score big wins - 2026-02-13
- Reggie Keates: A new face and a fresh identity for St Anne’s hockey - 2026-02-13
- Paarl Gim aims for consistency in 2026 - 2026-02-12
