World champion coach to guide Northern Stars
Thursday 3 August 2017 - Victorious New Zealand under-21 coach Kiri Wills is set to tackle a new coaching role having
been named to guide the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership.
Wills has recently returned with the national age-group side from the World Youth Cup in Botswana where she guided them
to gold and back-to-back world titles.
She will take over from Australian Julie Hoornweg who coached the new Northern Stars team during their debut season in
New Zealand’s elite domestic league.
Northern Stars Board Chairman Bill Francis said it was an exciting step forward for the club which was looking to build
on the foundations built in their inaugural campaign.
“We’ve seen what Kiri has done with some of the country’s brightest stars in the national under-21 side at the World
Youth Cup, and we’re very pleased to have her on board with our Stars,” he said.
“It is also encouraging for us to see a New Zealand coach come through the pathways in this country and reach their goal
of coaching at the top level.”
Wills said she was delighted to take on the job in New Zealand’s toughest netball league with the country’s newest team.
“It has been an ambition of mine to guide a team in the ANZ Premiership and it’s exciting to do that with the newest one
in the league,” she said.
“I enjoyed watching New Zealand’s best players go head-to-head each week and now it’s my challenge to get the best out
of the Northern Stars on a regular basis.”
Wills will not start her role with the Northern Stars until December 1 and she will continue preparations with New
Zealand’s Fast5 Ferns for the World Netball Series where they will aim to defend their title in Melbourne in October.
As a player she represented the New Zealand under-21 side, played for Auckland and was also captain of the Diamonds
before ending her career on court with the Waikato-BOP Magic. She has held a number of coaching positions including
assistant with the SKYCITY Mystics as well as national under-21 coach and Fast5 Ferns mentor.
The ANZ Premiership will commence in May next year.
ENDS