Premiership-winning former Swifts defender Bec Bulley will return to the club as Assistant Coach for the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball season.
A legend of Australian netball who won her first Premiership with the Swifts in 2008, Bulley has put together an impressive coaching resume since her retirement from playing in 2018.
Most recently she has been working with cross-town rivals the Giants in their Academy and last year she led North Shore United to title success in Netball NSW's Origin Energy Premier League – the state's top club competition.
A World Cup-winning Australian Diamond, Bulley also won Premierships with the Adelaide Thunderbirds (2013) and the Queensland Firebirds (2015), beating the Swifts in the Grand Final of the latter.
In 2017 she came out of retirement to play for the Giants, helping lead the club to a Grand Final in their inaugural season before finally hanging up her playing shoes a season later.
Head Coach Briony Akle said having someone of Bulley’s stature returning to the club was a huge boost for everyone associated with it.
“Bec was a world class player and is respected all over the world so we are delighted to have secured her services,” Akle said.
“She won a Premiership with the Swifts back in 2008 when the club was just coming to the end of a golden period, but she went on and proved her class again and again.
“We know we have the talent and quality to replicate what we did in 2019 and having Bec in our group will only add to the players’ belief.”
Bulley said she was excited to return to the club after going full circle from player to coach.
“I have very happy memories of my time playing for the Swifts with 2008 obviously being a standout, but I am also focused on the future,” she said.
“The Swifts still have the core of their 2019 Premiership team and with their age profile I think there are definitely more titles in them and I want to be a part of that.
“Briony has a great vision and passion for the club and is someone who’s won for the Swifts both as a player and coach so I am really looking forward to learning from her, and working with the players and wider staff.”
The 2021 Super Netball season will start on Saturday 1 May with the fixture expected to be released later this month.
