The NSW Swifts would like to thank assistant coach Bec Bulley for her immense contribution to the Club over the past two seasons of Suncorp Super Netball.
The two-time Swifts Premiership-winner will depart to take up the role of head coach at the Queensland Firebirds for the 2023 Super Netball season.
A World Cup-winning Australian Diamond, Bulley won her first Swifts Premiership as a player in 2008 and backed it up with one as assistant coach to Briony Akle in 2021.
Also a Premiership winner with both the Firebirds and Adelaide Thunderbirds, Bulley returned to the Swifts two years ago after finishing her playing career with local rivals the Giants and winning coaching honours in the Netball NSW Premier League with North Shore United.
Bulley was a key member of Akle’s team which led the Swifts to their seventh Premiership in 2021, and was part of the setup which saw the Club’s 2022’s title defence agonisingly fall short with the final play of the regular season.
Akle paid tribute to Bulley and wished her the best for what’s next.
“Firstly, I would like to congratulate Bec on her Firebirds appointment which is another proud moment in her netball journey,” she said.
“I would be lying if I said we weren’t very disappointed to be losing Bec but I guess that’s a tribute to what she means to our group.
“Since coming back to the Swifts ahead of the 2021 season, Bec has been a pleasure to work with and her knowledge of the game is outstanding.
“It was wonderful to have someone who really understood and respected the history and legacy of the Swifts and we will miss her, but we also understand opportunities such as this only come along every so often.
“Of course, Bec also won titles with Adelaide and the Firebirds, but I feel the Swifts is where she established herself as a force; she won a title in 2008 and then came full circle with us as part of a winning coaching team.
“She will always be a proud and much-loved member of the Swifts Family, and a double-champion of the Club. We look forward to seeing her courtside next year.”
Bulley thanked the players, fellow coaches, staff and members and fans for the past two years.
“Coming back to the Swifts was a homecoming of sorts for me a few years ago and I’ll always be eternally grateful for the chance to win another title with the Club,” she said.
“The Swifts remain as special today as they did back when I played for them, and to get the opportunity to hone my skills as a coach under Briony and her staff has been the best education you could ask for.
“Choosing to leave has been an exceptionally difficult decision but, as Briony said, these opportunities don’t come along every day.
“I would like to thank the players, the coaching team, the club staff and all of the fans for what has been an exceptionally happy second stint at a Club which will always be very close to my heart.”
The Swifts will begin the recruitment process for Bulley’s replacement in due course.
