EXPERIENCED Superleague star Jo Trip has been unveiled as the new head coach of the Severn Stars.
Trip, who retired from playing at the end of the 2020/2021 season, will take charge of the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) side as it prepares for the 2022/2023 campaign.
She takes over from fellow Kiwi Melissa Bessell who stepped down from the role to return to New Zealand for family reasons.
Trip’s netball career began in her native New Zealand, playing for ANZ Championship sides Mainland Tactix and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
She also represented her country at Under 21 and A team levels.
The defensive player then moved to the UK, playing for Loughborough Lightning for two seasons from 2016, before joining Surrey Storm. She finished her 12-year elite playing career at Saracens Mavericks in 2021.
Trip spent last season working as a technical coach with Loughborough Lightning, alongside her director of netball role at Samuel Whitbread Academy in Bedfordshire.
“The vision the University of Worcester franchise has for its future, the facilities and support staff already in place for players coupled with the sense of community evident here, easily made it an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Trip said.
“There has been a huge amount of growth in the playing level within the VNSL over the past seven years of my involvement, and I’m excited to now apply my experience and lessons learnt as a player in this new role.
“Being appointed head coach for the franchise has reignited an intense passion for netball and set a fire in my belly! I’m already very excited by the quality of players being attracted to Severn Stars.”
Stars director Mick Donovan said: “Jo has hit the ground running and is already pulling together a team for the 2023 Vitality Netball Superleague season, which we will be announcing over the coming months.
“She is keen to build relationships which strengthen the Severn Stars programme and is also committed, like we are to developing the talent of the future through the Stars Pathway.”