Colm Bonnar - Managerial Career

Managerial Career

In retirement from playing Bonnar became involved in team management and coaching. Just a year after he hung up his hurley Bonnar became part of Gerald McCarthy's five-man management team with the Waterford senior hurlers. He was initially brought in as a selector before serving as trainer of the team under McCarthy and his successor Justin McCarthy. It was a successful period for Waterford as the team captured their first Munster title in thirty-nine years in 2002. Bonnar remained with the Waterford management team until the end of the 2003 season. He then accepted an offer to serve as a selector with the Tipperary senior hurling team under Ken Hogan. Apart from a Munster final appearance in 2004 it was an unsuccessful stint with his native-county.

Bonnar has also enjoyed much success as manager of the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) hurling team. Between 2002 and 2008 he guided the institute to four Fitzgibbon Cup titles, making WIT one of the most successful team college or university teams in recent years.