While Netball New Zealand is not revealing who has applied for the vacant Silver Ferns coaching gig, a few names have been thrown around.
Netball writer Robert van Royen takes a look at four potential candidates to replace Waimarama Taumaunu in November.
CV: Coached the national under 21 team to a world championship title in 2013, her fourth and final year in charge of the side. Southby also led the national Fast5 team to world series titles in 2013 and 2014.
The former Western Flyers and Otago Rebels player worked under Lois Muir as the Rebels coach in 2004 and 2005 in the defunct National Bank Cup, before co coaching the Southern Steel with Natalie Avellino in 2012. Southby has been the Steel head coach the past three seasons.
Pros: Has a growing reputation as a coach who knows how to develop young players. Has worked with a heap of up and coming players in the country and is well respected.
Cons: Could be a bit too soon for her to make the step up and coach the national side. Her record with the Steel - 18 wins, two draws and 33 losses - leaves a bit to be desired.
Verdict: Is destined to lead the Silver Ferns at some stage, but will be better suited with another four years at ANZ Championship level.
CV: Was an unofficial assistant coach to Ruth Aitken with the Silver Ferns in 2011, before officially accepting the position in 2012.
She coached the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic - the only Kiwi team to win the ANZ Championship - to the title in 2012, before taking a break in 2014. She returned to the ANZ Championship as the Northern Mystics assistant coach to Debbie Fuller this year.
Pros: Has had experience as an assistant coach for the national side and has a fine track record as a coach the next level down.
Cons: Has not been in a head coaching role since 2012, and is renowned as being eccentric. Clashed with The New Zealand Herald reporter Dana Johannsen while in charge of the Magic in 2010.
Verdict: Taurua told the Waikato Times coaching the Silver Ferns was a major goal of hers in April, and is rumoured to have applied for the job. Has to be a frontrunner for the job.
CV: Fitzgerald had more than 30 years of coaching experience in Australia before taking over from Taurua as the Magic coach last year.
She was named Netball Australia coach of the year in 2004 and 2006, and led the New South Wales Swifts to the inaugural ANZ Championship title in 2008. She was also the Diamonds assistant coach in 2012 13.
Fitzgerald has guided the Magic to a couple of third place finishes in her two years in Hamilton.
Pros: Has ample experience and a proven track record. Also known for her ability to develop players.
Cons: Is Australian, which will not go down well with many Kiwi netball fans if she gets the job.
Verdict: There is no doubt she has the credentials to get the job and make a good fist of it, it just depends if Netball New Zealand decides to appoint an overseas coach or not. NNZ has said it will appoint the best candidate, something Fitzgerald makes a strong case for.
Debbie Fuller (Mystics head coach)
CV: After retiring as a player in 2002, Fuller started coaching in Wellington and Bay of Plenty. Her first notable job was as defensive coach of the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship in 2009, under head coach Te Aroha Keenan.
She was promoted to assistant coach the next year, before cementing the head coaching job in 2011. The Mystics finished second in her first season in charge, while they were third in 2012. Fuller took 2013 off due to family commitments, before returning to the helm last year.
Pros: After the Mystics finished 7th, 8th and 6th in its first three years in the ANZ Championship, Fuller made an immediate impact in her first season in charge in 2011, when she took them all the way to the final.
Cons: Perhaps lacking in experience, and has not been able to guide the talent laden Mystics to an ANZ Championship title.
Verdict: Like Southby, Fuller is likely to coach the Silver Ferns one day, but time is on her side and more time in the ANZ Championship can only be a good thing.
