Ric Charlesworth Steps Down as Australia Coach Ahead of Commonwealth Games

Ric Charlesworth will step down as Australia's coach before next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Hockey Australia said on Thursday.

Australia beat the Netherlands 6-1 to win the World Cup in The Hague last weekend and Charlesworth, 62, believed now was the best time to quit.

"Last Sunday's World Cup final is the best full stop I could wish for in my coaching career. I believe it would be indulgent for me to go to the Commonwealth Games," he said in a statement.

"I have thought about it a lot. The high point of my year was the World Cup. The team will be moving on and it's my personal decision -- I don't want to be packing up and away for another three weeks."

The now four-time World Cup winning coach will continue to work with the Australian squad over the next four weeks prior to its departure for Glasgow on July 19.

There was no immediate word on who will take over from him. Under Charlesworth, Australia returned to the top of the world rankings in 2010, five years after they last held the number one spot.

Charlesworth represented Australia 227 times in a playing career spanning 17 years from his debut in 1972 to his retirement following the 1988 Olympic Games.

He also was the coach of the Australian women's field hockey team from 1993-2000, and a technical advisor to Indian field hockey teams from 2007-08.