Sunshine Coast Lightning today announced they will part ways with Head Coach, Kylee Byrne.
Kylee has been with the Club for six seasons, firstly as Assistant Coach from 2017-2019 under Noeline Taurua in the Club’s foundation seasons, and then taking over as Head Coach in 2020.
Kylee felt the timing was right 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,” Kylee 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 her 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 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,” Smith said
“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.”
Lightning has a strong squad heading into the 2023 season including its two Diamonds representatives Steph Wood and Cara Koenen, and Jamaican international Kadie-Ann Dehaney who all played in the recent netball final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games winning gold and silver medals. South African star defender Karla Pretorius will also return to the team following her maternity leave this season.
Lightning will now commence a search for its next Head Coach, ready to start in advance of the 2023 pre-season in November.
