Reinga Bloxham has been appointed head coach of the Southern Steel netball side after three years in the assistants role.
Bloxham replaces Noeline Taurua who has moved to Australia to coach the Sunshine Coast side in the new Australian domestic competition.
"It's definitely been a goal and more so in the last couple of years. The pathway has become clearer and I've been looking forward to this opportunity," she said.
New Southern Steel coach Reinga Bloxham Photo: Supplied
The Steel won the minor premiership in the trans-Tasman competition this year before being eliminated in the semi-finals.
"Last year was really good for us as a team. The girls grew and also I grew as a coach so it laid a really good foundation for us and now we're ready to take it to the next level," Bloxham said.
Re-signing the bulk of the squad reflected the performance culture developed.
The 10-strong 2017 roster features Silver Ferns Shannon Francois, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson and Gina Crampton, Jamaican international Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, former Silver Ferns Wendy Frew and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and New Zealand U21 players Abby Erwood, Jamie Hume and Jennifer O'Connell.