The Netball Australia board has announced it will not be renewing the contract of Australian Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander beyond the end of 2020.
Alexander has been at the helm of the Diamonds for more than eight years, leading the team to gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 Netball World Cup, and silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 Netball World Cup.
Alexander is the most capped Diamonds head coach of all time, having led the Diamonds into battle on 102 occasions and maintaining them as the number one ranked team in the world since 2011.
Alexander will coach the Diamonds one final time at the Diamonds v Suncorp Super Netball All-Stars bushfire relief charity match at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Sunday 1 March.
Netball Australia Chief Executive, Marne Fechner acknowledged Alexander for her leadership and service over the years.
“Like Diamonds coaches before her, Lisa has been a trail blazer who has led the Diamonds program with distinction and great success. Lisa has had a significant impact on our sport and achieved great things in her time, both on and off the court. She is leaving a great legacy,” Fechner said.
“As we looked to the next high-performance cycle and beyond, there was a consensus and appetite for change heading into 2021. The high-performance landscape is ever changing and increasingly competitive and we believe it’s in the best interest of the program to open up the role. We thank Lisa for her passion and commitment to the Diamonds and to growing the game, and look forward to her continuing her coaching legacy.”
Alexander also shared what it means to her to have served as national head coach and wished the team her best.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Australian Diamonds head coach for the past eight and a half years. I would dearly have loved to continue in the role beyond December 2020, and whilst disappointed with the decision not to renew my contract, I respect the decision of the board to head in a new direction,” she said.
"I will not be applying for the position and I wish the athletes, support staff, high performance staff and new coach all the very best for the future and for continued success and excellence for the Australian Diamonds."
Netball Australia will begin recruitment for the next Diamonds coach in early March, allowing time for the incoming coach to shape the program leading into the 2020 Quad Series and Constellation Cup and next four year high-performance cycle.
-ENDS-
Netball Australia media contact:
Jenna Handreck
0400 812 196
jenna.handreck@netball.com.au
