Mavericks to search for new coach after Tracey Neville makes big call, Simone McKinnis has her say
The Melbourne Mavericks will start the search for a new head coach, after inaugural mentor Tracy Neville made a bombshell call. And a cross-town champion coach has already had her say.
The Melbourne Mavericks are searching for a new head coach after the bombshell announcement foundation mentor Tracey Neville will not be returning to the club.
But Melbourne Vixens outgoing premiership coach Simone McKinnis ruled herself out of the running, saying “no not for me” when asked if she would be interested in the job.
The Mavericks announced on Wednesday the club’s inaugural coach had informed them she would not be seeking to renew her contract.
After the club announced the re-signing of Nicole Richardson as an assistant coach earlier this week, it appeared Neville was set to return despite some uncertainty over her position.
But Neville said after discussions with the club it had become “apparent it was the right time for me to move on”.
The former England Roses head coach will return to the United Kingdom this week as planned after the club’s post-season interviews.
The Mavericks said they would start the search for a head coach imminently with no guarantee Richardson stepped up into the role, although she would appear the obvious candidate.
But taking on the top job could have implications for Richardson’s role as Diamonds’ assistant coach as the Australian team heads into two big years of major competition with the Commonwealth Games next year and home World Cup in 2027.
It is unclear if Richardson would be able to juggle both roles.
Super Netball’s youngest club will join premiers Melbourne Vixens and the Giants in the hunt for a new head coach, but it’s understood the Giants are well-advanced in their search.
Neville coached the club to 10 wins in its first two seasons in Super Netball, despite having a list which was heavily impacted by injury.
“It has been a whirlwind two years and I’ve really enjoyed establishing this program from the ground up and setting it up for the years ahead,” Neville said.
“I feel like we’ve crammed a decade’s worth of work into just two years, and I am so proud of how far we’ve come and the platform we’ve put in place for the future.
“I’ve done everything I can to establish the foundation at this club but after long discussions with the franchise, it became apparent it was the right time for me to move on.
“Working with this group of players and high performance staff has been amongst the highlights of my career. I couldn’t have asked for a more committed group.
“I’ve loved my time here and look forward to seeing the club flourish in the years ahead.”
Neville becomes the third head coach to depart at the end of this season after McKinnis and Julie Fitzgerald - the two most experienced coaches in the league.
While McKinnis didn’t close the door on a coaching return after the Vixens’ premiership win, she indicated after the grand final she was looking forward to a break after 13 years in the role and “being unemployed”.
The Mavericks have so far re-signed four players for 2026 – captain Amy Parmenter, defender Kim Brown, goal shooter Shimona Jok and midcourter Molly Jovic.
The club is also expected to announce Diamonds’ midcourter Jamie-Lee Price as a boom recruit for next season.
SEN Teams chief executive Richard Simkiss said the club respected Neville’s decision and paid tribute to the work she did in helping establish the new club.
“Tracey has put the team first since day one, and built an amazing foundation for the Mavericks future,” Simkiss said.
“Building a club from the ground up is an extraordinary task, and Tracey has been single-minded in shaping a legacy for the Mavs to build upon.
“We are sad to see Tracey leave but respect her decision, and she’ll always be a Maverick.
“We wish her every success in whatever she chooses next, knowing that her contribution to netball will live on in whatever path she takes.
“We can’t thank her enough for her contribution.”
Originally published as Mavericks to search for new coach after Tracey Neville makes big call, Simone McKinnis has her say
Diamonds lock in powerhouse series ahead of Comm Games
