Former Sunshine Girls coach takes on Birmingham Panthers role
Published:Thursday | November 14, 2024 | 12:07 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
FORMER SUNSHINE Girls head coach Connie Francis is English club Birmingham Panthers’ new director of netball.
Francis, who is preparing for the Super League season in England, still feels her appointment a little ‘surreal’.
“It’s so surreal. The journey to secure this contract was great, especially with my agent, Janet Johnson-Haughton, on board. At the Panthers, the setting is different compared to what I’m accustomed to in Jamaica, and I’m loving every minute of what I’m seeing when it comes to the preparation of players and how they go through what the coaches ask them to do,” she said.
Francis, who is also a former national player, brings a wealth of experience to the Panthers after stepping away from coaching the national team in 2023. Under her guidance, the Sunshine Girls twice won bronze medals at the World Championships, in 2007 and 2023, and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. According to Francis, this is a move she has been eyeing for some time but believes it will take some time to find her footing.
“It’s a welcoming change, and I’m looking forward to seeing how far this journey can take me. I’ve always envisioned myself coaching full time. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m not overly confident to say yes I can win a championship as I know everything is a work in progress, and the first thing is just to get on board with all the stakeholders and understand their culture,” she added.
Head coach of the team Jo Trip was also pleased to have Francis on board, especially given her stacked résumé.
“I am thrilled to welcome Connie Francis to Birmingham Panthers. She has experience at every level of the game and understands the importance of supporting athletes from the very start of their journey right through to the tip of their sport. Connie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, and with Connie on board, we look forward to an exciting season, filled with growth, development, and success for our athletes,” Trip said.
Francis added that while the task might be mammoth, her fellow coaches help in sharing the workload.
“It’s not only one team because there’s an under-17, under-19, and an under-23 team that feed into the Panthers. The job is big, but it’s easy because the other coaches make it simple when it comes to communicating,” she said.