Briony Akle named NSW Swifts Head Coach

The NSW Swifts have announced that former club representative Briony Akle will take over as Head Coach for the team’s 2018 Suncorp Super Netball campaign and beyond.

Akle has signed a three-year deal which will see her take the helm of the club and look to continue the Swifts’ 2020 vision.

Most recently Akle has been the Head Netball Coach at the NSW Institute of Sport where she is responsible for delivering the high performance program for NSWIS scholarship holders and targeted national and emerging athletes. Akle will continue in this role in the short term.

Akle, who cut her teeth as an elite player before moving into high performance coaching, takes over from Rob Wright who held the position of Head Coach from seasons 2014-2017 and stepped down on personal grounds last month.

Speaking today, Akle said she was delighted to be taking over such a young, exciting and talented group of players. She is also looking forward to adding to the rich history and legacy of the NSW Swifts.

“I am both humbled and honoured to be taking up this role at such a respected club,” she said.

“Some of the greatest players to have ever graced the game have worn the Swifts dress and I am really looking forward to working with the current group who have really impressed me so far.

“I know that this Club has a long-term vision and I delighted to get the opportunity to take over and help steer the Swifts back to where they belong at the pinnacle of the game.

“I would like to thank Netball NSW for this chance and cannot wait to get to know the players one-on-one and work closely with them.”

Playing in front of the Swifts’ army of fans is also something Akle said excites her.

“We have all seen the great games the Swifts have played and won at both the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre and Qudos Bank Arena and I am anticipating some more wonderful occasions next season.

“Players often feel they have an extra player out on court thanks to their supporters, and the colour, passion and support of the Swifts fans is something I’ll be looking to feed off too.

“This is a very special club which is steeped in history, but not weighed down by it, and I am ready for the challenge that lies ahead.”

A dual Commonwealth Bank Trophy Premiership winner as a player with the Sydney Swifts (1999-2004), Akle has extensive experience coaching emerging athletes.

She was Head Coach of the NSW 17/U State Team (2011), Assistant Coach of the NSW 21/U State Team (2012), Head Coach of the NSW 19/U State Team (2014, 2015), Head Coach of the Netball NSW Blues
(2014), Assistant coach of the Netball NSW Waratahs (2015) and was appointed a NSW Swifts Apprentice Coach in 2014.

Akle led the NSW 19/U State Team to the National Netball Championships title in 2015 and was subsequently appointed as Assistant Coach of the 19/U Australian Gold team in the same year.

She became Head Coach of the Netball NSW Waratahs in 2016 and led them to the Australian Netball League Grand Final.