Tietjens has coached many young players who have gone on to become All Blacks, including[citation needed] Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear, Cory Jane, Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, Israel Dagg, and Liam Messam.

According to then-World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset, sevens' inclusion in the Olympics was "in no small way down to Gordon Tietjens.

Through his knowledge, passion, and expertise, he has driven the standards towards what we now celebrate as a truly global game of sevens.

[10] After an unsuccessful 2016 Olympics campaign, Tietjens stepped down from the All Black Sevens coaching position.

In October 2016, Tietjens accepted the role of coach to the Samoa national sevens team.