Image link address: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2018/11/02134032/Elissa-News.jpg
Kent takes over the reigns from Kate Upton who has been elevated to support Rob Wright as assistant coach for the Collingwood Magpies.
Elissa, who is a mum of three, has been coaching Victorian State League club, Melbourne University Lightning’s Championship side for the past three years – inclusive of a premiership in her first year. She was also involved with Vic Fury as assistant coach for the 2018 DUANL season.
Before leading from the sideline, Kent’s extensive playing career included over 40 games with the Queensland Firebirds and Melbourne Kestrels/Vixens, as well as being part of the 2011 Australian Diamonds Squad and captaining Australia in the 2012 Fast5 Netball World Series.
Elissa is really excited to be given the opportunity to work with the selected athletes who are trying to take their Netball to the next level. A privilege she won’t take lightly.
“I am looking forward to having some involvement in pathway netball in Tasmania, challenging the training partners in Victoria and working within the high-performance structures at Collingwood where there is an abundance of knowledge and the facilities are excellent.”
“I am looking forward to the challenge of backing up what was an extremely successful year for Tasmanian Magpies in a 2018 premiership season. It will be great to build on the hard work Kate Upton and others have put in, and to challenge the 2019 group to take another step up in their standards and performances.”
As someone who has worked through Netball Victoria Pathway as both an athlete and player, Elissa is aware of the importance of opportunities in pathways for both athletes and coaches.
“This pathways visibility and opportunity that Netball Tasmania and Collingwood Magpies has created is so important in the motivation of young athletes, providing goals for performance, as well as giving athletes a stage to compete with their peers around the country for the ANL season and allowing exposure to the SSN coaches nationwide” she said.
Elissa will travel to the state this weekend, to select the Tasmanian based athletes that will form part of the 2019 Tasmanian Magpies team.
Image: Netball Australia
