Kevin Sharp is to step down from his role as Head of Coach and Player Development at the end of the season.
It will mark the end of Sharp’s full-time involvement in the professional game after making his debut as a 16-year-old for Yorkshire 47 years ago.
But he will still be available to do part-time coaching at New Road, predominantly with the Academy, if required.
Sharp was Head Coach when Worcestershire won the Vitality Blast for the first time in 2018, defeating Lancashire in the semi-final and Sussex in the final at Edgbaston.
He had previously worked as Batting Coach & Second Eleven Coach after the then Director Of Cricket, Steve Rhodes, offered him a role.
The 63-year-old stood down as Head Coach after one season and has been in his current role for the past four and a half years.
At Yorkshire, for whom he played from 1976 until 1992, Sharp coached the likes of current England stars Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow during their formative years.
He said: “I’ve had a career in cricket that has lasted since I was 16, and I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve spent pretty much my whole life in professional cricket as a player and as a coach.
“I’ve loved my time at New Road. To come here and be given an opportunity at such a wonderful place, a cricket ground that everyone loves to visit, it felt like I was joining a family.
“That is something I’ve always treasured, and I absolutely love it, so hopefully, over the next few years, I won’t just be able to say ‘hello’ to the players but maybe sit in the D’Oliveira Stand with the rest of the crowd.
“I’ve got to a stage where I’ve achieved what I wanted to accomplish in the game. I’m 64 on my next birthday, travel has opened up a bit after COVID, and I’ve got some desires to travel around the world with my wife.
“We like walking and want to get some obscure places over the next few years while we are fit enough to be able to do that.
“But at the same time, I don’t want to fully walk away from cricket because it is something I wouldn’t be able to do.
“The options are going to be there for me to be able to do some part-time coaching, and I’d still like to do some work with the Academy lads during the winter when required by the club.”
Worcestershire Chair Fanos Hira commented, “Kevin has been a very important contributor to our success during his time at Worcestershire.
“His experience in and outside the game has been vital to developing our talent here at Worcestershire – especially after his role changed in late 2017, and he is always welcome at New Road.
“We look forward to him continuing to help us, and indeed his legendary storytelling, albeit part-time in the future!”
