Southern Steel coach Janine Southby has been appointed as the new coach of the Silver Ferns.
New Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby. Photo: Photosport
She replaces Wai Taumaunu who stood down after four years in the role, following the recent Constellation Cup series.
Southby becomes only the tenth coach to guide the Silver Ferns in their 77-year history, and will be at the helm for the next four-year cycle which will include the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 and the World Cup in Liverpool in 2019.
Southby has been head coach at the Steel since 2013, having been co-coach the previous year.
She was assistant coach of New Zealand A for their recent trip to Sydney and coached the coached the Fast 5 Ferns in 2013-2014, winning the title in both years.
Southby said she was looking forward to starting the next chapter in her coaching career.
"It is an honour and a privilege to be given the responsibility of leading the Silver Ferns and working with such an exciting group of athletes," Southby said.
"I am looking forward to the challenge and working with those involved to build on the solid foundations that are already in place."
Netball New Zealand Chief Executive Hilary Poole said she was pleased to secure a coach of the calibre of Southby.
"This has been a thorough process, but central to our decision was selecting a coach who can build on the team's recent performances and return us to the top of international netball. I'm confident she will embrace this new challenge."
Southby will take up her new role on 1 December.
Netball New Zealand will name a group of Silver Ferns triallists next week to attend a camp in Auckland early next month.
