It has to be the netballing version of a dream job.
How else to describe an opportunity to learn from the woman who is universally regarded as the sport's greatest coach?
That opportunity will be given to an aspiring coach with the Otago Rebels this season.
Lois Muir, who led the Silver Ferns
in a glorious era of success in the 1980s, has invited applicants for the new position of "apprentice coach" with the team.
The appointee will join Muir at training sessions and at home Coca-Cola Cup matches, observing up close what makes one of New Zealand's most astute coaching brains tick.
It will be an unpaid position, but there are certain to be plenty of takers lining up for the job.
Rebels chairwoman Raewyn Penman said yesterday that Muir was keen to groom a possible successor.
"Lois has some really good ideas about bringing on new coaches, as well as new players," Penman said.
"The apprentice coaching role will be a great chance for a coach to improve their skills and to advance their career aspirations."
Penman said the job was aimed at someone who had little experience of coaching at provincial level.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to give experience to someone we feel is capable of moving to the next level.
"We're short of coaches at all levels in Otago, so it's great to have someone like Lois working here."
Muir, who is in Canada, is due to return to Dunedin in time for the final Rebels trials on January 24, 26 and 27.
A squad of 12 players, plus four alternates, will be named for the Coca-Cola Cup.
The Rebels - champions in 1998 and beaten finalists in 1999 - will be seeking to improve on their placings of fifth in 2000 and eighth last year.
- NZPA
