Sunshine Coast Lightning has recruited local Queensland coaching talent Jenny Brazel as the Assistant Coach for the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season.
Brazel has been recognised as Netball Queensland Coach of the Year four times (2018, 2010, 2006 and 2004) and comes with an impressive coaching resume, most recently leading the USC Thunder Sapphire team as Head Coach and the Lightning ANC team as Assistant Coach.
In 2021 Brazel was appointed Head Coach of the Fijian Pearls National team and before that took on many roles within Netball Queensland including five years as the Queensland Firebirds Assistant Coach (two premierships), Head Coach for the NQ Elite Development program and Head Coach for the Queensland Fusion.
Brazel said she’s looking forward to working with Head Coach Belinda Reynolds and feels their values both on and off the court are aligned.
“I am very excited about collaborating with Belinda and reconnecting with a number of Lightning players that I have coached in past years in many different settings. This is such a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the growth of our team, one that I am extremely grateful for,” she said.
“I have worked alongside Belinda before in our Netball Australia underage pathways programs. I know Belinda quite well and I know she is very family orientated and has three beautiful boys, so family is extremely important to her as it is with me. We therefore share many common values — particularly around family, trust and respect.
“I am very excited to work under Belinda, she is coming in very fresh, she brings great enthusiasm, courage and a real drive as to where we can take the team in 2023. I feel our coaching philosophies are very aligned — in creating a motivating, challenging, trusting and caring environment — with genuine care to develop our players both on and off the court.”
Reynolds said she’s looking forward to working with Brazel and building on the relationships they have built in various coaching settings.
“I am excited by Jen’s appointment as my Assistant Coach for the 2023 season. Jen and I have worked together previously at National underage camps and have a great level of respect and trust for each other,” she said.
“I am confident Jen will be a great support for me whilst also challenging the program, the athletes and myself. I can’t wait to get to work with Jen and we’re both excited for the season ahead.”
Brazel will commence pre-season training with the team this week.
