Performance Staff

Matt delivers our programme of Performance which covers a remit of Scholar Athletes, Clubs, and leads our team of Coaches and MDT staff who support all of the programmes and delivery. Over the last 10 years Matt has led the University into the BUCS Top 10 in 8 consecutive seasons, and created an environment where true Dual Careers can take place. The University has had many Olympic, Commonwealth, Professional and International representation success stories in his time and Matt is very proud of the USP that supports both academic and sporting excellence. Matt has a degree in Sports Science and Business and a Masters in Leadership in Sport from Loughborough. Through his creativity and challenging processes he demands that Performance Sport at Bristol continues to evolve and progress.

Will is responsible for identifying and recruiting high level athletes for the University's performance programme, and is committed to building an inspiring education and transformative student experience. As our full-time Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach, and having coached sports like football, field hockey and rugby since the age of 16, Will continues to help our performance clubs with S&C on a part-time basis, alongside his pathway management work. Will initially found his interest in S&C while studying his undergraduate degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Ethan leads the rugby performance programme, working closely with both men’s and women’s squads to drive physical development and on-pitch performance. Alongside this, he provides support for other performance clubs, including netball and football programmes, contributing to a multi-sport performance environment. His wider experience includes time with Bristol Bears Rugby, Bristol City Academy, and the All Blacks Sevens programme, as well as performance roles within multiple boarding schools across the UK and internationally, supporting athletes across a broad range of sports and competitive levels. Like Will, Ethan also found his passion for S&C at Cardiff Metropolitan University at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Gary leads the provision of S&C to our cricket, hockey and tennis programs aiming to reduce the likelihood of injury, increase availability and optimise performance. Alongside this, he also provides S&C support to other performance teams including basketball, football and other select programs. Gary also works as “Athletic Development Coach” at Bristol Grammar School and enjoys the synergy of both roles where he develops long term athletic development one end and optimises performance and in university athletes the other. Gary’s previous experience is gained from working as S&C lead for the Canadian Sports Institute – Atlantic and the University of New Brunswick where he aided athletes sporting successes at major games and sports competitions. Gary has been coaching since the commencement and completion of both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Gloucestershire and thrives watching athletes success at all levels.

Level 3 RFU coach has been in the club for a number of years as the Club Manager before getting the role the 22/23 season. Olly played a good level as a youngster before leaving the sport following some serious injuries. Olly comes with a back ground in coaching, mentoring, business and fundraising which fit nicely into his role at University of Bristol. Ollys aim is to ensure UBRFC has the best student experience in the country whilst pushing the club to play in the highest league possible. When not at Coombe Dingle Olly can be found coaching local sides, academies and schools across the region.

Chris is our Head of Hockey here at Bristol. His role is to support and run the hockey programme for both men and ladies clubs. He comes from a great hockey background working at a lot of different schools around the UK but has also taken some time to coach hockey abroad in New Zealand, America, Holland. His passion for the game will continue the develop the hockey here at Bristol and keep them competing at the highest level. Chris is an ambitious coach and already enjoying his development at Bristol.

Ed joined the University of Bristol Boat Club (UBBC) in 2015 as our Development Coach and progressed quickly to Head Coach. Having started coaching at St Edwards School Oxford, he swiftly took up a project with the women's squad. His work has brought the standard of Bristol Women's Rowing up to a new height, culminating in a record 4th place in the Championship 8+ at BUCS Regatta 2018. Ed is well placed to continue developing our club programme, aiming to develop talented individuals from all squads into robust and successful athletes who can compete nationally and internationally.

LTA Level 4 Senior Performance Coach, Ali brings a wealth of experience of working with young people to her role as Head coach of University of Bristol Tennis (UBTC). Ali's drive and passion is to make Tennis at the University one of the leading clubs offering Tennis to all levels from social tennis to BUCS competitive players of a very high standard (LTA ranking 7.2 or higher).

Amber joined the staff team in summer 2024, following the signing of a partnership agreement between the University and Bristol Bears. During Amber's professional rugby career, she won a World Cup and Grand Slams with England Rugby, and Captained Bristol Bears Women.

With over 10 years of coaching experience, Chris is our UBCC Head Coach. Having made his ECB Premier League debut at the age of 17, Chris finished school and went to play overseas cricket in Cape Town. On returning to the UK, he was awarded a Cricket Scholarship in 2014 to be a part of Bournemouth University’s High Performance Programme, where he won the BUCS Southern Prem, National Cup Runners Up and National Indoor finalists. In 2017, Chris was awarded an additional Academic Scholarship including funding to complete his MSc research in South-East Asia. Chris is currently still playing West of England Premier League cricket; he also holds an ECB Advanced Coaching qualification and works alongside UBCC on Gloucestershire CCC’s Talent Pathway U18s.

Martin joined Bristol in 2021. Martin brings over 10 years of coaching experience at varying levels and ages in club, county and England Hockey Performance Centre roles. Martin is currently undertaking the GB Hockey ‘Advanced Coach Programme’ alongside his part time role with Bristol and his 'other' professional career. Martin is a dedicated and enthusiastic coach, driven by a passion for developing people inside and outside of sport. Martin aims to support hockey at Bristol to take the next step forward at all levels.

Men's Football Coordinator with over 20 years of coaching in BUCS and has a level 3 coaching award from the FA. Alan has a wealth of experience of coaching and managing teams at varying levels and ages of football. He is passionate about developing University players and seeing them progress through the various levels within the university football club. He is keen to forge links with local teams in order to widen the experiences of the football cohort.

Netball Club Coordinator, Chantelle Wopara, brings over 13 years of experience coaching university netball. Chantelle has experience of playing at National and Super League Level and is currently Team Bath Superleague Assistant coach. Chantelle’s ambition and passion is to make sure netball at the university is available to all, from those who want to play socially all the way through to the elite.

Connor is a BASES Supervised Sport Scientist (Psychology), Certified Mental Toughness Consultant and LTA Level 3 tennis coach. He has been fortunate to work with a wide range of sporting individuals and teams, from 'weekend warriors’ to Olympic gold medalists. His passion for both people and human performance has seen him ply his trade in Africa, Europe and Australasia. Now back in Bristol, he is adding value and insight to the University’s Performance Programme, Maroon scholars and BUCS Squads.

Physiotherapist (MSc) and a Personal Trainer (National Academy of Sports Medicine) with a BSc in Sports Science. Henry is passionate about health and fitness and the physiological and psychological benefits of regular exercise, movement and nutrition. As part of his role at the Sports Medicine Clinic, Henry works closely with the University of Bristol Performance Squad athletes and the Strength and Conditioning team.

Will is a Sport Nutritionist with an MSc Distinction and SENR Graduate Registration, experienced in supporting athletes across a range of sports. His previous work includes delivering season-long nutrition support to the Bristol All Golds Rugby League Club as a GetPRO Grant winner and completing his MSc dissertation tracking an ultra-endurance athlete through competition. Passionate about food and athlete development, Will specialises in tailoring evidence-based nutritional strategies to individual performance needs. At the University of Bristol, he delivers education sessions to performance squads and provides one-to-one support to Scholars, helping them balance university life with the demands of high-performance sport.