Netball Australia has appointed Sunshine Coast Lightning Assistant Coach Kylee Byrne to the role of Australian 21/Under Head Coach.
In taking over the role, Byrne will immediately commence the 21/Under Australian team’s campaign towards the Netball World Youth Cup which will take place in Fiji in July 2021.
Byrne’s first official duty as 21/Under Head Coach will see her attend the 17/Under and 19/Under National Netball Championships in Brisbane next week where the nation’s young netball talent will converge for a six-day tournament.
Netball Australia General Manager of Performance Stacey West says Byrne is a terrific and deserving appointment.
“Kylee has extensive coaching experience within high performing environments and has been involved in the Netball Australia pathway program for many years, so we’re thrilled to have her on board to lead our brightest young talent,” West said.
“Kylee will not only coach our 21/Under national team but also be heavily involved with our Netball Centre of Excellence pathway training camps and programs, working closely with our Centre of Excellence Head Coach, Michelle Wilkins.”
Prior to joining Sunshine Coast Lightning in late 2016, Byrne has been Netball Queensland’s Elite Program Head Coach, Queensland Fusion Head Coach within the Australian Netball League and also in assistant coach roles with the Australian Institute of Sport and the Queensland Firebirds.
Byrne spoke of what this appointment means to her and her excitement in working with the nation’s up and coming netballers.
“I am extremely honoured and excited about taking on this role which has such a proud history in the Australian netball pathway,” she said.
“I can’t wait to see the talent that is coming through our national and state programs and begin working towards delivering a successful 2021 World Youth Cup campaign.”
Joining Byrne at the National Netball Championships next week will be Netball Australia’s newly-appointed national performance selection panel that will be keeping a close eye on the talent on show.
The panel is made up of Samsung Australian Diamonds Specialist Coach Megan Anderson, Territory Storm (ANL) Head Coach Christine Voge, Sutherland Stringrays Head Coach Maria Lynch and South Australia Sports Institute Head Coach for Netball Jennifer Borlase.
Performances at the National Netball Championships will play a large role in selection for national representative teams which will be announced towards the end of April.
This selection process will be led by Netball Australia Centre of Excellence Head Coach Michelle Wilkins and Samsung Australian Diamonds Head Coach Lisa Alexander.
