Noffke aims to jump-start Volts

The new Otago Cricket coach Ash Noffke at the University Oval yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Ashley Noffke is here to clear the runway and spin the propeller.

The rest is up to the Volts.

The new Otago coach touched down in Dunedin on Monday night.

The 47-year-old former Australian international will lead the team for the next two years and is open to staying longer if all goes well.

He has a challenge ahead, though.

The Volts are enduring a very long barren run.

Noffke has forged an impressive coaching record, but the drive has to come from the players.

"I don’t love being at the front all the time. I don’t need to be the voice in the room," he said.

"I guess I talk about competitive problem solvers. They are the ones that are in the middle and they are the ones that have to solve the problems about what is being put up in front of them and work through that.

"Our job is to support them as best we can."

That support is going to start with some one-on-one interviews. He is keen to get to the heart of the team.

"It sort of does not matter what I think or how the team is perceived by others. I want to hear what the players’ thoughts are and where they believe they are at."

Noffke previously owned a Chipmunks franchise on the Sunshine Coast and the head office was in Dunedin, so he is familiar with the region and its charms.

His wife Nonnie will join him in Dunedin for the season. The couple have four children.

Breanna, 20, is independent and Will, 17, was getting there as well. Tieya, 15, and Skye, 13, will remain in private school in Brisbane but the girls will come over to Dunedin during the school holidays.

"You’ve got to go where the work is, essentially," he said when asked about the sacrifices professional coaches make to pursue their career.

"I was lucky enough — I could have stayed in Queensland for a lot longer. I did get an opportunity to extend my contract there, but I was ready for a change.

"I wanted a challenge where we can create something special."

And it will take that to turn the Otago Volts around.

It has been more than three decades since the Volts won the Plunket Shield. Their last list A title was in 2007-08 and it has been 11 years since they have won the T20 competition.

"Otago cricket was a really logical step, essentially. From the first phone call ... and with talking to some of the senior players, they are ready for change and are really wanting to take Otago cricket in the right direction."

Noffke has been the head of female performance at Queensland Cricket for the last five years.

But he started out his coaching journey in Western Australia.

Mickey Arthur was head coach of the men’s team and he asked Noffke, who had just finished playing, to stay on as an assistant coach.

Noffke joined Darren Lehmann’s management team at the Brisbane Heat the following year and also worked with Phil Jaques and Wade Seccombe in Queensland.

"I worked with a number of different coaches, and you learn off loads of different people throughout your playing days.

"I played for four different counties and there are some great coaches in county cricket."

Noffke forged a useful domestic career. At his peak his bowling was rated highly and his ability with the bat saw him selected in the Australian national team.

He played one ODI and two T20s during a strong era for Australia.

Since shifting into coaching, Noffke has contributed to six championships.

Under Lehmann’s leadership the Heat won the BBL in 2012-13, and Noffke helped win three titles with Queensland.

In women’s cricket he helped the Heat win the BBL in 2019-20 and he steered the Queensland Fire to their first one-day title.

It is an impressive run and Volts fans will be hopeful he can work his magic here.

Noffke will oversee the Volts winter training before heading to the UK in mid-July for a month to complete his term with the London Spirit in The Hundred.