news

Hurricanes new head coach Natalie Swift

28 May 2008

Brunel Hurricanes announce new coaching appointment

Brunel Hurricanes will begin the 2008-2009 Co-operative Netball Superleague season with a new Head Coach at the helm.  Former England International player Natalie Swift (nee Andrews) joins the Hurricanes fresh from a treble-winning season as Head Coach at Whitton.

Natalie has top level experience having played for 5 years at national and international level in both Australia and New Zealand.

Natalie stated; “This is a great opportunity.  I am looking forward to the challenge of bringing together talent and international English players to build a top performing team.  I believe London and the South East has the best pool of talent in the UK with great potential”.

Brunel Deputy Director of Sport Neil Young stated; “We are delighted to bring Natalie in as Head Coach.  Her drive and singular vision for the Hurricanes will bring a dynamic and focused approach to coaching and player management.  We are confident that Natalie will gather a talented coaching and support team around her and that her inclusive approach will encourage fresh talent from across the region”.

Natalie takes over from Denise Holland who has been coaching Brunel Hurricanes for three seasons. 

Denise guided the Hurricanes into the playoffs in her first two seasons in charge, but the team could only manage 5^th place in 2007-2008.  As well as her work with the Superleague team Denise has redeveloped Brunel University’s Performance Netball Programme and has been responsible for strategically driving this forward for all levels of the game; university, talent and Superleague.  She has been instrumental in Brunel being recognized as a university for elite netball. 

In paying tribute to Denise’s commitment Deputy Director of Sport Neil Young stated; “There has been quite a transformation in netball at Brunel University in the past three years under Denise’s guidance, which culminated last season with the University’s 1^st team reaching the BUSA semi-finals and the 2^nd team narrowly losing out in the final of the BUSA Trophy.  These are the best results that I have seen in my seven years at the University.  I wish Denise well as she progresses her career in netball coaching and development.”

Young added; “Our main focus now is to plan and deliver a robust and inclusive trials and selection process, which will give us the best possible squad of players to mount a more formidable challenge in next year’s Co-operative Netball Superleague”

Next Match

Online Shop