The ANZ Premiership is losing a third head coach this year with the Northern Stars announcing Kiri Wills' departure to take up a head coaching job in Australia.
In a statement the Stars confirmed Wills will take over the Queensland Firebirds in the Super Netball competition after seven seasons as a head coach in the ANZ Premiership.
Wills joined the Stars in 2018, guiding them to grand final appearances in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
“I think there will be a few tears before I go," Wills said of the "tough" decision.
“It’s a club that means a lot to people and a place people feel they belong and they want to come to and I’m really proud of that.
“We have always boxed well above our weight I believe. We’ve got the best out of our team and loved proving those who doubted our ability wrong and we’ve done that time and time again throughout my time here which is a massive highlight.
“I’ve treasured having players come to us from other clubs and then become Silver Ferns. Those are the phone calls I love the most is somebody crying on the other end of the phone because they’ve just made the squad, which is pretty cool.”
Wills said the opportunity to grow as a coach and broaden her horizons in a different competition was one she couldn’t turn down.
“I can’t wait to get over there and immerse myself in it. You sit here in New Zealand and watch the [Super Netball] and watch teams like the Firebirds and always wonder what it would be like to coach a team like that and coach in front of the crowds they have," she said.
"I’m going to get that opportunity, which is really exciting.”
Wills' departure follows Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek's decision to step down last month after 13 seasons in the ANZ Premiership as well as Southern Steel head coach Reinga Bloxham resigning a fortnight ago to pursue opportunities internationally.
There's also been changes already at Wills' new destination with the Firebirds releasing Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam last week, opening up a spot in their playing roster.
It means Wills could look to fill the spot with a Kiwi, much like the New South Wales Swifts current efforts to secure Grace Nweke, or she could look more local with previous Firebird and Diamond Gretel Bueta, who has been away from the game after announcing she was pregnant last year.
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