‘You could trust her’: Netball legend Julie Fitzgerald steps down as elite level coach after 400 plus games at the top
Her netball coaching feats rival rugby league super coach Wayne Bennett, and after multiple championships at the elite level, the most experienced coach in Super Netball is stepping down.
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Julie Fitzgerald knew midway through the Giants’ season it would be her last year in charge but refused to utter a word about her decision publicly before their final match, wanting to concentrate on her job to ensure she sent 200-game veteran Jo Harten out on a winning note.
That one act probably tells you all you need to know about Fitzgerald, who has stepped down as a head coach at Super Netball level after a remarkable 27 seasons, five premierships and more than 400 games in charge.
The woman often described as the Wayne Bennett of coaching, whose outstanding record – five premierships with the Sydney and then NSW Swifts, two ANZ Championship New Zealand conference titles with the Magic and two Super Netball grand finals, including in the inaugural season, with the Giants – was surpassed only by the way she revered by her former players including legends of the game Liz Ellis, Cath Cox and comeback queen Casey Kopua.
“I’ve known for a while that I that it was time,” Fitzgerald said.
“That it was time for a new voice, time for change, time for a change for me. But I really wanted to win that last game and make it a big celebration for Jo, so I tried to keep all the emotion that I could out of it so that I could do my job well on that final night.”
Her humility was driving now Fox Netball commentator Cox “bananas”, given she was in on the secret and desperately wanted to be able to give Fitzgerald the celebration she deserved.
“I didn’t want the moment to go unnoticed, so I was pushing her hard for and she just wouldn’t budge,” Cox said.
“It’s, I think, a really great reflection of the kind of person she is, and that she wanted Jo to have her moment.”
Fitzgerald will not be lost to the game completely, keen to remain in netball in some capacity, sharing her experience with others while not having to carry the pressure of a head coach in the most competitive league in the world.
“I’m not going to leave netball entirely. There will be opportunities to do some things in the sport,” she said.
“I don’t want to be head coach anymore, but I think some things will come up, and I have a level of experience that I hope might benefit others.”
But just like players who realise it’s time to retire when they start dwelling on the grind of another pre-season, Fitzgerald knew it was time to go when she started thinking about another round of season reviews, pre-season planning and the daily grind that comes with leading a team in the best netball league in the world.
The successes are among Fitzgerald’s favourite moments in the sport.
But it’s the people that she has loved most.
“Obviously, you look back on things like grand finals and successes in that regard, that’s been really good, but definitely the people and the wonderful athletes that I’ve coached, the great staff that I’ve had to work with, I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said.
“And I think I’m terribly fortunate.”
Diamonds great Cox, who literally grew up with the Fitzgerald clan as the single mother of four brought her children to training with her in her early days at the Swifts, and like Ellis, is regarded as part of the family by her mentor, said the best netball she ever played was under Fitzgerald.
“The best netball I played was under Julie Fitzgerald, without a shadow of a doubt,” Cox said.
“Even when I got to Australian level, I never played as well as I did domestically, I don’t think consistently, because Jules just, everyone felt very confident, very safe in her environment, you could trust her, and that made such a difference in terms of the performance that you put out on court, because she knew everything about your lives as well, and she was appreciative of what everyone was going through and just really paid attention to that.
“I certainly didn’t meet another coach like that during my career.
“And I know that’s why people followed her. I think it’s a credit to Julie when you see the likes of a Jo (Harten) and a Jamie-Lee (Price) pick up (their lives in) New Zealand and follow her to Australia, and then Casey (Kopua) coming out of retirement – she wouldn’t do that for another coach.”
That ability to bring out the best in her players certainly hasn’t faded, with Giants players Jamie-Lee Price and Sophie Dwyer named in the Diamonds squad earlier this week, while the club’s rising stars
“I was absolutely delighted, because they’re not only incredible athletes for the future but they’re wonderful people and they deserve every accolade that they get,” she said of Sligar and O’Brien.
“You look back and it’s only a couple of years ago that Sophie (Dwyer) managed to come through. I’m proud of the fact that we’re bringing through some young Diamonds.”
Netball NSW chief executive Tracey Scott hoped Fitzgerald would remain in the game in some capacity given “her experience and wisdom are simply too valuable to lose”.
“Julie Fitzgerald is not only a legend of the club, she’s a legend of the sport,” Scott said.
“Her vision, leadership and relationships have built the Giants from the ground up and the impact she’s had on the people and the culture will be felt for years to come.
“We’re immensely grateful for everything she has contributed to Netball in New South Wales and more broadly across Australia and will celebrate her accordingly in due course.”
With Fitzgerald and Melbourne Vixens mentor Simone McKinnis, who has coached more than 200 games at national league level, stepping down, Super Netball will look very different next season.
But Cox praised Fitzgerald for knowing when to call time.
“I think Jules is great for recognising that – that it’s time to step aside and let somebody else have a go,” Cox said.
“And probably also recognising that the Giants have maybe lulled a little in recent years. And with the new licencing, who knows what’s going on there, so I think it’s the perfect time for her to bow out and focus on herself for a little while.”
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