Super Netball 2024: The Queensland Firebirds have announced an ANZ premiership mentor as their new coach

After a turbulent season, the Queensland Firebirds have announced a new head coach who hopes to lead them ‘back to the top’.

Queensland Firebirds have looked across the ditch for its next leadership, announcing ANZ Premiership mentor Kiri Wills as the team’s new head coach who hopes to lead them “back to the top”.

After a turbulent season, the Firebirds have appointed the former New Zealand under-21 and Fast5 Ferns coach on a two-year deal.

Wills, a former New Zealand under-21 international player, has coached Northern Stars in NZ’s ANZ Premiership since 2018, taking the team to three grand finals in that period.

She also coached NZ to gold at the World Youth Cup in Botswana in 2017 and the Fast5 Netball World Series title in 2016.

“I am honoured and excited about coaching the Queensland Firebirds,” Wills said.

“Players and coaches around the world look on with envy at the calibre of the Suncorp Super Netball competition so it is a giant step for me.

“The Firebirds have a history of being a formidable club and I am looking forward to rolling my sleeves up and working in partnership with the players, the team staff and Netball Queensland to work our way back to the top.”

Coach Kiri Wills of the Stars looks on ahead of the round two ANZ Championship match between the Tactix and Stars at Wolfbrook Arena on April 21, 2024 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Wills’ appointment comes just days after the club announced goal shooter Donnell Wallam and defender Remi Kamo would not be offered new contracts for next season.

The Firebirds finished the 2024 Super Netball season in second-last position on the ladder with just four wins after coaching upheaval during the campaign.

Queensland parted ways with coach Bec Bulley in mid-June - less than half-way into her four-year contract - with her assistant coach Lauren Brown taking the reins.

But Brown lasted just one game as interim coach before she stepped down from the role.

Assistant Katie Walker then took over for the remaining four games of the season, working alongside Netball Queensland’s head of talent and development Roselee Jencke to prepare the team.

Donnell Wallam was not offered a new contract by the Firebirds. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Firebirds said Wills would immediately jump into discussions on recruitment for the 2025 Super Netball campaign, with Netball Australia’s external contracting window opening on August 5.

Firebirds chief executive Kate Davies said Wills boasted an impressive high-performance coaching experience, but also had a strong track record in development and harnessing team culture.

“At every step of the thorough recruitment process, Kiri displaced not just her extensive netball knowledge but also her capabilities with implementing and leading a whole-of-club strategy to foster a team performance culture of the highest standard,” Davies said.

Former Firebirds head coach Bec Bulley and assistant coach Lauren Brown.(Photo by May Bailey/Getty Images)

“Kiri obviously has extensive experience coaching at the high-performance level as well as a proven track record in talent identification and development having been the Silver Ferns development squad coach in New Zealand for many years alongside her role with the Stars.

“Most importantly, we feel that Kiri has the tools to create a high-performance culture at the Firebirds that is anchored in identity, meaning and positivity combined with serious credibility in technical and tactical coaching, to enable our club to achieve the success we all crave.”

Originally published as Super Netball 2024: The Queensland Firebirds have announced an ANZ premiership mentor as their new coach