Noeline Taurua has been appointed inaugural coach of the Sunshine Coast netball franchise that will compete in next year's Australia new netball competition.
New Zealand's most successful ANZ Championship coach, Taurua leaves the Southern Steel to take up the position of the team that is backed by the Melbourne Storm and University of Sunshine Coast.
Taurua, who played 34 Tests for New Zealand, took over the helm of the Steel in December 2015, claiming the minor premiership in her first season with an unbeaten record in the regular season.
She remains the only coach to lead a New Zealand side to an ANZ Championship title when she was in charge of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2012.
"The opportunity to come on board as the inaugural head coach of the Sunshine Coast netball team for the new Australian National Netball League is perfect timing for me," Taurua said.
"Having been involved in the ANZ Championship for nine years, the time was ripe for change and a new challenge.
"It doesn't get any more exciting than moving to a new country to coach a brand new team in a ground-breaking competition. For that I am grateful and relishing the opportunity."
Taurua confirmed that anyone on the open market could be a target including Kiwi's but ultimately the decision to abandon the local competition for Australia would be up to them.
"I think players have to decide what they want.
"Why does a person want to leave, do they want to grow, do they want to develop and they have to go through their own process themselves."
As for luring Southern Steel talent to the Sunshine Coast, Taurua was torn.
"It wold kill me if I tried to poach someone from out of here."
The team, whose name is yet to be revealed, will compete in Australia's new elite netball competition from 2017.
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