# Paul van Ass

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{{short description|Dutch hockey player and coach}}
{{family name hatnote|van Ass|Ass|lang=Dutch}}
thumb|Paul van Ass, 2012
'''Paul van Ass''' (born 16 August 1960, [Bergschenhoek](/source/Bergschenhoek)) is a Dutch [field hockey](/source/field_hockey) coach.  After coaching for the Dutch club [HGC](/source/HGC_(field_hockey)), he became the coach of the [national team](/source/Netherlands_men's_national_field_hockey_team), managing them at the [2012 Summer Olympics](/source/2012_Summer_Olympics) in the [men's tournament](/source/Field_hockey_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament). After his contract expired in 2014, he was declared the coach of the [Indian team](/source/India_men's_national_field_hockey_team) in 2015.

==Career==

===Club career===
In his first major coaching position, head coach of the men's team of [HGC](/source/HGC_(field_hockey)), van Ass managed to save the team from degradation and lead them to a championship final in 2007, which was credited to his "opportunistic" style of coaching.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1040/Den-Haag/article/detail/2269506/2007/10/01/Paul-van-Ass-wijzer-na-nederlaag-HGC.dhtml|title=Paul van Ass wijzer na nederlaag HGC|date=1 October 2007|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> HGC lost that game to [HC Bloemendaal](/source/HC_Bloemendaal). Van Ass's HGC reached the final of the [Euro Hockey League 2007–08](/source/Euro_Hockey_League_2007%E2%80%9308)<ref name=ad2>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1001/Sportwereld/article/detail/1924377/2010/06/03/Paul-van-Ass-wil-meer-energie-brengen.dhtml|title=Paul van Ass wil meer energie brengen|date=3 June 2012|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> after beating [HC Rotterdam](/source/HC_Rotterdam) in the semi-final, but lost to [Uhlenhorster HC](/source/Uhlenhorster_HC) in overtime.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/3972220/_HGC_verliest_finale_EHL__.html|title=HGC verliest finale EHL|date=11 May 2008|work=[De Telegraaf](/source/De_Telegraaf)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref>

In the 2008–2009 season, he coached ''Jong Oranje'' (the men's under-21 national team) and was assistant-coach for the [Netherlands national field hockey team](/source/Netherlands_men's_national_field_hockey_team);<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1001/Sportwereld/article/detail/2082723/2008/09/05/Van-Ass-manager-hockeyers.dhtml|title=Van Ass manager hockeyers|date=5 September 2008|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1001/Sportwereld/article/detail/2175071/2008/11/09/De-machine-van-HGC-hapert.dhtml|title=De 'machine' van HGC hapert|date=9 November 2008|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> he returned to coach HGC (which had a disappointing season under [Alexander Cox](/source/Alexander_Cox_(field_hockey))<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/4006286/__Trainer_Van_Ass_terug_bij_HGC__.html|title=Trainer Van Ass terug bij hockeyers HGC|date=26 May 2009|work=[De Telegraaf](/source/De_Telegraaf)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref>) for the 2009–2010 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1001/Sportwereld/article/detail/2025448/2009/05/25/Cox-weg-bij-HGC-Van-Ass-komt.dhtml|title=Cox weg bij HGC, Van Ass komt|date=25 May 2009|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> That team reached the final in the national championship,<ref name=nu1/> losing again to Bloemendaal, and qualified for the [Euro Hockey League 2010–11](/source/Euro_Hockey_League_2010%E2%80%9311).<ref name=ad2/>

===National team===
Despite having limited international experience, van Ass was appointed coach of the national team in June 2010, after {{ill|Michel van den Heuvel|nl}} was let go.<ref name=nu1/> The appointment came as a surprise:<ref name=ad2/> van Ass got the position in favor of [Marc Lammers](/source/Marc_Lammers) or another international top coach.<ref name=nu1>{{cite news|url=http://www.nu.nl/sport/2261191/paul-van-ass-nieuwe-bondscoach-hockeyers.html|title=Paul van Ass nieuwe bondscoach hockeyers|date=3 June 2010|work=[NU.nl](/source/NU.nl)|accessdate=1 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/6855185/__Hockeybond_wil_daadkracht__.html|title=Hockeybond wil daadkracht en gedrevenheid|date=3 June 2010|work=[De Telegraaf](/source/De_Telegraaf)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref>

===Olympic selection controversy===
Besides not having a coaching certificate,<ref name=nu2/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/columns/televisie/6856293/__TeleVisie__Zwalkend_beleid__.html|title=Zwalkend beleid|last=Jong|first=Mascha de|date=4 June 2012|work=[De Telegraaf](/source/De_Telegraaf)|language=Dutch|accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> van Ass did not select seasoned internationals [Taeke Taekema](/source/Taeke_Taekema) and [Teun de Nooijer](/source/Teun_de_Nooijer) (nicknamed "T&T"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1021/Meer-sport/article/detail/3136289/2012/01/24/Van-Ass-in-gesprek-met-T-T.dhtml|title=Van Ass in gesprek met T&amp;T|date=24 January 2012|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref>), the country's best known hockey players and icons of the sport.<ref name="ad1">{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1021/Meer-sport/article/detail/3118721/2012/01/12/De-Nooijer-en-Taekema-gaan-gewoon-naar-de-Spelen.dhtml|title='De Nooijer en Taekema gaan gewoon naar de Spelen'|date=12 January 2012|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> He cut the two from the national selection in January 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1021/Meer-sport/article/detail/3118083/2012/01/12/Bondscoach-Van-Ass-zet-hockeyiconen-uit-Oranje.dhtml|title=Bondscoach Van Ass zet hockeyiconen uit Oranje|date=12 January 2012|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> To justify his choice criticized them in an interview with ''[de Volkskrant](/source/de_Volkskrant)'' a few days later, for which he was accused of [character assassination](/source/character_assassination),<ref name=nu2/> and he later apologized for his words.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nu.nl/sport/2725964/excuus-van-ass-richting-taekema-en-nooijer.html|title=Excuus Van Ass richting Taekema en De Nooijer|date=27 January 2012|work=[NU.nl](/source/NU.nl)|accessdate=1 August 2012}}</ref> After a public backlash Van Ass apologized to T&T at the end of January<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1021/Meer-sport/article/detail/3141003/2012/01/27/Excuses-bondscoach-Van-Ass-aan-T-T.dhtml|title=Excuses bondscoach Van Ass aan T&amp;T|date=27 January 2012|work=[Algemeen Dagblad](/source/Algemeen_Dagblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref> and took them back in March, his credibility having suffered greatly,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2012/03/23/hockeyers-de-nooijer-en-taekema-terug-in-oranje/|title=De Nooijer en Taekema terug in Oranje – ‘geloofwaardigheid Van Ass op het spel’|last=Haakman|first=David|date=23 March 2012|work=[NRC Handelsblad](/source/NRC_Handelsblad)|language=Dutch|accessdate=1 August 2012}}</ref> but cut them again in July.<ref name=nu2>{{cite news|url=http://www.nusport.nl/hek/2849921/karaktermoord-taekema.html|title=De Karaktermoord op Taekema|last=Hek|first=Rogier van 't|date=3 July 2010|work=[NU.nl](/source/NU.nl)|accessdate=1 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bnr.nl/topic/sport/139223-1207/kritiek-taekema-raakt-van-ass-niet|title=Kritiek Taekema raakt Van Ass niet|last=Haars|first=Anne-Greet|date=9 July 2012|work=[BNR Newsradio](/source/BNR_Newsradio)|language=Dutch|accessdate=1 August 2012}}</ref>

====2012 Olympics====
The Dutch team played their opening game in [Group B](/source/Field_hockey_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_tournament_%E2%80%93_Group_B) against [India](/source/India_men's_national_field_hockey_team), beating them 3–2,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bnr.nl/topic/olympischespelen/234573-1207/liveblog-hockey-nederland---india|title=Hockeymannen winnen openingsduel van India|last=Haars|first=Anne-Greet|date=31 July 2012|work=[BNR Newsradio](/source/BNR_Newsradio)|language=Dutch|accessdate=1 August 2012}}</ref> and rallied against [Belgium](/source/Belgium_men's_national_field_hockey_team) in their second match to beat them 3–1, thanks to [penalty corner](/source/Penalty_corner_(field_hockey)) specialist [Mink van der Weerden](/source/Mink_van_der_Weerden).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.london2012.com/news/articles/netherlands-rally-for-comeback-victory.html|title=Netherlands rally for comeback victory|date=1 August 2012|publisher=London2012.com|accessdate=1 August 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603042330/http://www.london2012.com/news/articles/netherlands-rally-for-comeback-victory.html|archivedate=3 June 2013}}</ref> The team reached the final by demolishing Great Britain 9–2, but lost to Germany, 2–1.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}

{{Netherlands FH Squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{Netherlands FH Squad 2013 EuroHockey}}
{{Netherlands FH Squad 2014 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ass, Paul van}}
Category:1960 births
Category:Living people
Category:Dutch men's field hockey players
Category:Dutch field hockey coaches
Category:People from Lansingerland
Category:HGC (field hockey) coaches
Category:Field hockey players from South Holland
Category:Coaches at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paul van Ass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_van_Ass) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_van_Ass?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.