Karl Broadhurst has been appointed Wolves’ new under-18s head coach, with former Old Gold defender Richard Stearman joining him as assistant head coach.
Following Rich Walker’s promotion to under-21s head coach after James Collins’ departure in the summer, the latest appointments represent further progression within the academy’s coaching structure.
Broadhurst joined Wolves in 2017 as a foundation phase coach before progressing through roles with the under-12s and under-14s. Most recently, he served as under-14s to under-16s youth academy phase lead and under-16s head coach.
A former professional footballer, Broadhurst made more than 200 appearances as a centre-back for AFC Bournemouth. He also featured for Hereford United, Crawley Town, AFC Telford United and Solihull Moors, where he continued as assistant manager following his retirement from playing in 2012.
Stearman made more than 250 appearances for Wolves across two spells with the club and is fondly remembered as a defender who gave his all for the badge during successful periods under Mick McCarthy and Kenny Jackett. He returns to Compton nine years after his last appearance in Old Gold.
After retiring from playing at Solihull Moors, where he remained as a first-team coach, Stearman most recently worked at Swansea City as assistant to then-manager Alan Sheehan.
Speaking about the appointments, academy director Jon Hunter-Barrett said: “We went through a recruitment process to identify the best people, and Karl was an internal applicant. He has also done well for us over the last seven to eight years in the academy. Coming through, we thought he was the ideal person to take us forward.
“He's always been a captain and leader, and he’s great at understanding the responsibilities involved in turning players who have come from a schools programme into full-time players.
“Karl is a great guy, a consistent character with good drive and determination, and fundamentally wants the best for individuals in the programme. He understands what it looks like and what it should look like.
“And with Stears [Stearman], he's a former club captain here and also captain of all the other clubs that he's been at as well. The pairing is quite suited to, again, what the boys need going into professional football.
“Stears has got professional standards, real good endeavour and drive, and experience of coaching at first-team level as well as working in non-league. The spectrum of coaching diversity now around the PDP is great.”
Hunter-Barrett also highlighted how the club’s commitment to development applies to its coaches as well as its players, following the internal appointments at both under-21s and under-18s level.
“I think we have to also demonstrate progression for coaches the same way we demonstrate it for players. Coming through the system is the same for our staff. If staff are showing high potential, as well as showing the right behaviours around it, and we're comfortable with that, then we are rewarding them.
“But there is, of course, still the recruitment process to go through, so they also have to demonstrate why they are the person we believe should take us forward.”
Head of academy football Christian Preußer added: “We are delighted with the appointments of both Karl and Richard to the under-18s and look forward to working with them both. They both already know the club very well, and we wish them every success in their new roles.”
