Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Saturday 18°CSunday 17°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
GAA

Karl Lacey to head up Academy Development in Donegal GAA

written by Chris McNulty January 26, 2021
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

FORMER Donegal football star Karl Lacey has been appointed to a new coaching role in the county.

Lacey, who stepped down as a coach with the Donegal senior footballers just a few weeks ago, has been appointed as the Head of Academy Development.

The Four Masters clubman, a 2012 All-Ireland winner who is a four-time All-Star and was the 2012 Footballer of the Year, will now lead a programme design alongside Games Development Manager Aaron Kyles.

Lacey also works as a lecturer in Sport Coaching and Performance at Letterkenny Institute of Technology.

A new Academy Development Structure has been presented by Kyles, who says the aim is to nurture emerging talent in the county – directly with academy squads and indirectly by providing support to clubs.

“While designed for academy squads a key feature of the player development programme is that it can be integrated by clubs into their coaching frameworks and planning strategies,” the Donegal County Board said.

“County coaches will also liaise with clubs to upgrade their coaches, assist player development and to help with other objectives, such as minimising dropout.

“This will be achieved by providing a holistic and progressive long-term player development programme to coincide with the GAA’s new Player Pathway Model for sustained results both on and off the field, across all levels of development in the county.”

Donegal GAA have also enlisted the services of  Dr Micheál Cahill, who will fill the role of Athletic Performance Consultant.

Originally from Limerick, Dr Cahill currently serves as vice president of performance and sports science at Athlete Training and Health, a sport performance company, in Texas.

A key feature of the new coaching structure is external partnerships with third level institutions and experts at the leading edge of coaching philosophies and technologies.

Donegal GAA have partnered with LyiT for some years now and the partnerships will now also include Athlete Training and Health in Texas, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU).

Dr Cahill lectures in AUT and supervises postgraduate sports science research worldwide for CMU, while Kyles is a PhD researcher in CMU under the guidance of two renowned leaders in youth athletic development, Dr Jon Oliver and Dr Rhodri Lloyd.

Karl Lacey to head up Academy Development in Donegal GAA was last modified: January 29th, 2021 by Chris McNulty
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
Aaron KylesDonegal GAADr Mícheál Cahillfour masterskarl laceyLetterkenny Institute of TechnologyLYIT
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Donegal Ladies defeated by Armagh as relegation...

36 minutes ago

Donegal Ladies gearing up for relegation playoff...

5 hours ago

Shane O’Donnell in running for Player of...

1 day ago

Mayo star Lee Keegan believes Donegal still...

4 days ago

Former Donegal coach Rory Gallagher launches High...

4 days ago

Tickets for Donegal’s All-Ireland semi-final on sale...

4 days ago

Shane O’Donnell nominated for Player of the...

5 days ago

Donegal to face Meath in All-Ireland semi...

5 days ago

Shane O’Donnell carrying “confidence” after Man of...

6 days ago

McGuinness lauds players’ effort as Donegal through...

7 days ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.