Australian Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander axed by Netball Australia
Australian Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander will depart after almost nine years at the helm of the national netball team.
Netball Australia announced that they would not be renewing Alexander's contract before the end of 2020.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Australian Diamonds head coach for the past eight and a half years," Alexander said in a statement released on Tuesday.
"I would dearly have loved to continue in the role beyond December 2020, and whilst disappointed with the decision not to renew my contract, I respect the decision of the board to head in a new direction."
Former Diamons head Coach Lisa Alexander Elesa Kurtz
Alexander was head coach during some of the most successful years for the Diamonds in her 102 caps. Under her coaching, the Diamonds have been the number one ranked team in the world since 2011 and she led the team to win gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 Netball World Cup. However recent results failed to reach the same heights with Australia claiming silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 Netball World Cup.
"She is leaving a great legacy," Netball Australia Chief Executive, Marne Fechner said.
"Like Diamonds coaches before her, Lisa has been a trail blazer who has led the Diamonds program with distinction and great success. Lisa has had a significant impact on our sport and achieved great things in her time, both on and off the court.
"As we looked to the next high-performance cycle and beyond, there was a consensus and appetite for change heading into 2021.
Diamonds players were emotional getting their silver medal at the Netball World Cup after losing to New Zealand's Silver Ferns. AAP
"The high-performance landscape is ever changing and increasingly competitive and we believe it's in the best interest of the program to open up the role. We thank Lisa for her passion and commitment to the Diamonds and to growing the game, and look forward to her continuing her coaching legacy."
Alexander will have one final game as head coach to farewell her supporters, at the Diamonds v Super Netball All-Stars match in Sydney on March 1, raising money for bushfire relief.
