Herdman was head coach for the New Zealand women's national football team from 2006 to 2011. When he arrived in New Zealand and joined the national association football programme in 2003, he initially acted as Coach Education Manager and later as Director of Football Development. Working with the national women's teams, he led the U-20 squad to the World Championship in 2006 and the later renamed U-20 World Cup in 2010. He also guided the senior squad to the FIFA Women's World Cups in 2007 and 2011 as well as the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.