Taurua set to stay on as Silver Ferns coach
Dame Noeline Taurua is set to continue on as Silver Ferns head coach.
Netball NewZealand (NNZ) will announce the successful applicant at 2pm today after they decided to test the market when Taurua’s contract ended in early February.
NNZ’s decision to advertise the role was made in consultation with Taurua, who signalled straight away she would reapply for the position.
Taurua always looked the clear frontrunner from the start and it is understood she will carry on in the job.
NNZ engaged board members, player representatives, leadership and independent experts in their coaching search.
When NNZ made the call to test the market and see what candidates were out there, Taurua described it as a “ground-breaking” move for netball.
“I think it’s a * great story for our sport and not a lot of other sports do it. It is ground-breaking,” she said in February.
“For us in netball it’s how can we keep above or ahead of a lot of other sports and ensure the purity around our brand is upheld.
“I think it’s a fantastic process knowing that all parties are happy.”
Launching a coaching search would ensure the Silver Ferns ended up with the best possible applicant, NNZ said.
Taurua has been head coach of the Silver
Ferns since taking over from Janine Southby in August 2018. Southby and NNZ mutually parted ways after a fourth place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a string of unsatisfactory results.
Just 11 months later, Taurua remarkably guided the Ferns to a World Cup title in Liverpool, which was followed by a rare Constellation Cup series win over Australia in March 2021.
Four years later, with a less experienced and talented squad, the Ferns struggled at the 2023 World Cup in Cape Town, finishing fourth – their worst placing in the 16 edition history of the tournament.
Taurua has a 46 win, 29 loss, one draw, record from 76 matches (61% winning record).
Against world netball’s benchmark, Australia, she has won 11 of 28 matches (39%). That record is superior to her two predecessors’, Wai Taumaunu (eight wins from 24 at 33%) and Southby (two wins from 13 at 15%).