Queen's Hockey Appoints Two New Head Coaches
2 July 2025

Queen’s Sport is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Head Coaches who will lead Queen’s University Hockey Performance Squads into the 2025/26 season.

Matthew Bell joins as the Men’s 1st XI Head Coach, while Adam Louden returns to Queen’s as Head Coach of the Women’s 1st XI. Their appointments come at a pivotal time for the club, as the Women’s team prepares for its debut in EYHL Division 1 – a first in Queen’s history – and the Men’s team returns to EYHL Division 2.

Karl Oakes, Head of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at Queen’s, welcomed the new coaching team, saying:

"We are entering a new chapter at Queen’s Hockey with the appointment of our new Head Coaches, Matthew and Adam, who will lead our Performance Squads into an exciting future. This season brings fresh challenges and opportunities, including our Women's team competing in the EYHL Division 1 for the first time in the University's history, and the return of our Men's team to EYHL Division 2.
We remain committed to supporting hockey at Queen’s and look forward to continued growth and success across all levels of the club."

Matthew Bell,  Men’s 1st XI Head Coach, said:

"I’m very excited to be joining Queen's Hockey as the Men’s 1st XI Head Coach for the coming season. Queen’s Hockey has an excellent support network and with brilliant facilities. I can’t wait to get started with the group, to improve on their success from the previous years."

Adam Louden, Women’s 1st XI Head Coach, said:

"I’m incredibly honoured to be joining the Queen's University Women's hockey program at an exciting time. The infrastructure the university provides for its student athletes is incredible. I’m looking forward to stepping into an environment full of high talent, high character players who are eager to grow and compete. The coming season will be a new challenge for the squad and I hope to carry on the legacy of Simon Bell, Drew Campbell and Hannah Robinson in providing a strong, positive, athlete-first culture."

Chloe McAnulty, Hockey Development Officer at Queen’s, added:

"I am pleased to welcome Matthew Bell to Queen’s Hockey. A proud Queen’s University graduate and seasoned international athlete with over 100 caps for Ireland, Matthew brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished sporting pedigree to our program. His extensive background in high-performance environments, including his time playing professionally in Germany, makes him a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to the positive impact he will have on our Men's 1st XI Performance Squad.
I am also delighted to welcome Adam Louden back to Queen’s Hockey. Adam brings a wealth of coaching experience including University, Ulster, and Ireland representative levels. His strong tactical and technical expertise, combined with a commitment to physical development and fostering a psychologically safe team culture, make him an invaluable asset to our program. With his professional background in performance analysis, we are well-equipped to meet the challenges of competing in EYHL Division 1 with confidence and determination."

Left - Adam Louden, Women's 1st XI Head Coach

Right - Matthew Bell, Men's 1st XI Head Coach