Mark van der Ham performance director in Azerbaijan

Trainer-coach Mark van der Ham set his footprint at international level in the world of judo. He captured two Olympic medals and won the senior world title, junior world title and several major championships with Roy Meyer, Kim Polling, Juul Franssen, Marhinde Verkerk, Guusje Steenhuis, Anicka van Emden, Matthias Casse and Jorre Verstraeten. Van der Ham is a good coach in all aspects: technical (also in newaza), organisational, passionate, experienced, communicative, easy going. Today he announced his new challenge as performances director in Azerbaijan. Head coach will be German Olympic medallist Richard Trautmann.

 Last year he won the world title with Matthias Casse and claimed an Olympic bronze medal with Casse but resigned his job three weeks ago and will go for another adventure in Azerbaijan.

He wouldn’t want to spoil his reputation going for the money in a non-developed judo country. So it is a big country where judo has earned a place among all sports. Van der Ham has a rather young family, so will take along his family or be able to travel easily. Given his own club De Korte, inherited by famous Olympic success coach Chris de Korte (84), he will still be hands on deck, but in principle he has the staff to fill in his gap. Van der Ham is 44 years young and ready for a  big challenge that might give him eternal fame in a broader perspective than top successes with Matthias Casse only. Van der Ham worked with men as well as women and won major international medals with both.

This is we think Mark van der Ham is a match to Azerbaijan.

• Azerbaijan have a need for a coach as there have been some changes
• In Azerbaijan you can work with the best men with about 10 athletes at Olympic qualifying level
• Judo is big in Azerbaijan and a leading sport but a hunger for next level success
• An influential Olympic champion (2008) Elnur Mammadli but as last big success
• Many world level athletes and world medals, but only one world champion in 2013
• Azerbaijan have the resources (money) to invest in judo and in a mixed team
• Salaries are good in Azerbaijan for these positions