Devon Bean has been unveiled as the new director of athletics for the Bermuda National Athletics Association, replacing head coach Troy Douglas who recently resigned from the post and returned to the Netherlands.

Bean will lead a team of coaches including Mike Watson, another former Olympian, as the middle-distance coach along with Wayne Bean, while Terry Lynn Paynter is the throwing coach and Rohaan Simons the high jump coach.

Kerry Maxwell is the sprint coach with Bean, a former sprinter, also acting as a jumping coach. Bean is a level four certified coach.

“Because we have so many athletes in the 400 to 5,000 metres range, we decided we would have two coaches,” Donna Raynor, the BNAA president, said.

“I’m very pleased with the appointments, we wanted to make sure most of our coaches were level certified and those who were not level one have taken the course and passed.

“With Mr Bean the director of athletics, we wanted that position to at least be level four which he has, so we are quite pleased with our selections.”

Bean is excited by the challenge as the BNAA begins plans for the Carifta Games in Curaçao in April.

“Definitely something I’m looking forward to, I’m stepping into the shoes of predecessors Clive Longe, Gerry Swan and Troy Douglas,” said Bean who competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

“I have some large shoes to fill but I’m definitely up to the challenge.

“The team that the board and I assembled is quite diverse, all of our coaches are at least certified as level one IAAF certification and going forward they will have more knowledge and experience to share with the athletes.

“All the coaches on this team are very passionate about this sport, being previous athletes themselves and reaching high levels like the Com monwealth Games, Pan Am Games and Olympic Games, so I’m just acting as a third leg to stand on.”

Raynor is looking forward to the programme thriving under the new team.

“The job description hasn’t changed, just the job title,” she said. “The coaches will continue coaching their clubs and will lend their knowledge to other coaches.

“By putting this structure in place it helps make sure the coaches are accountable. We’re looking at different ways of getting the athletes ready for Carifta so we can look at a much bigger team than ten.”