The Sunshine Coast’s only national league team is on the hunt for a new coach after a wooden-spoon campaign.
The Lightning announced late last week it would part ways with Kylee Byrne after she spent six years at the Super Netball club — three as assistant coach and three as head coach.
Byrne made a lasting and largely successful impact before a disappointing 2022 campaign.
She joined the club in its foundation year in 2017 and assisted Noeline Taurua to successive premierships and another grand final appearance, from 2017 to 2019.
She took over as head coach and missed the finals (fifth) in 2020, before edging into the finals (fourth) in 2021 and then claiming the wooden spoon in the eight-team league in 2022.
Byrne still had a year to run on her contract but she said, via a club press release, that it was the right time to take her coaching in a new direction and give the club time to find a new coach before the 2023 pre-season.
“For the past six years, I have given my heart and soul to the Lightning club and people, and will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of what we built from day one,” she said.
“Netball has been a huge part of my life for so long and now it is time to step back and consider what is next for me.
“In sport, no one person is bigger than the team or the game and the Lightning village and support of those who I have had around me will stay with me forever.”
Lightning CEO Danielle Smith thanked Byrne on behalf of everyone at the club.
“Kylee was instrumental in the formation, development and success of Sunshine Coast Lightning since its foundation year and we thank her enormously for her valuable contribution,” she said.
“She led the team to finals campaigns in 2020 and 2021 and managed the team through some challenging pandemic impacted seasons with great care and skill.
“She has an impressive coaching pedigree including various roles at Netball Australia, Netball Queensland and the Australian Institute of Sport, so she will be in great demand.
“We wish her all the best in her next endeavours, and she will always be part of the Lightning family.”
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Lightning boasts a strong squad heading into the 2023 season, including Diamonds representatives Steph Wood and Cara Koenen and Jamaican international Kadie-Ann Dehaney.
The trio played in the final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
South African star defender Karla Pretorius will also return to the team following maternity leave this year.
Lightning has started its search for its next head coach, who was expected to start ahead of the start of the 2023 pre-season in November.
