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National senior netball coach Connie Francis (right) speaks with goal attack Kelsey Jonas (left) and wing attack Tahlice Redwood during the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers at the National Indoor Sports Centre on October 19, 2022. (PHOTO: Marlon Reid, File).
Former Jamaica netball head coach and national player Connie Francis has been named Director of Netball for England’s Birmingham Panthers franchise; the team announced on Wednesday.
“Please join us in welcoming former Sunshine Girls’ head coach, Connie Francis, as the Director of Netball for the Birmingham Panthers,” the franchise posted on Instagram.
Francis, whose coaching career spans nearly two decades, brings extensive experience and a notable record in international netball. She will lead the Panthers' performance strategy alongside head coach Jo Trip.
As the former head coach of Jamaica’s national team, the Sunshine Girls, Francis guided the squad to significant achievements, including a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and bronze medals at the 2007 and 2023 Netball World Cup tournaments.
Francis, who retired as a player in 2003, made headlines in 2022 when she returned to the court at age 54 to represent Jamaica in a two-Test series against New Zealand, stepping in after visa delays left the squad short.
In her new role at Birmingham Panthers, Francis will also act as a community ambassador, aiming to raise netball’s profile across the region. Her plans include outreach to schools and underserved communities, a core component of the Panthers' mission to build pathways for young talent from grassroots to elite levels.
“I am thrilled to be here in England and to join the Birmingham Panthers franchise at such an exciting moment in the league’s development. Francis said. I look forward to embracing the challenges of this role and to collaborating closely with the athletes, stakeholders, and everyone involved.”
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