Netball: Workload finally nails Coffin's coaching role

Resigned: Jenny-May Coffin (right) has stepped down. Photo / Natalie Slade

It's not quite the Magical Mystical Tour, but some might call it the Mystics merry-go-round.

Their coaching turnover will continue in 2012, with assistant coach Jenny-May Coffin departing after one season in the job.

It was an extremely successful season, too - with Coffin and coach Debbie Fuller taking the Auckland franchise to their first ever finals appearance, capped off by a run all the way to the grand final.

But now Coffin is gone, deciding it is impossible to balance her demanding media career with the time-sapping netball role.

"If I stay true to my work ethic and also the team's ethic, then I had no choice," Coffin told the Herald on Sunday. "I couldn't justify giving the role anything less than my best and it is almost an impossible juggling act."

The Auckland franchise has had three different head coaches in charge across the first four ANZ Championship seasons, with Yvonne Willering and Te Aroha Keenan preceding Fuller.

The 37-year-old Coffin made her decision two weeks after the grand final. She admits that elements of the role had surprised her; not so much the amount of analysis needed, as you have to keep on top of your own players as well as the opposition, but just the sheer amount of time it was taking.

"It was virtually like having another full-time job," says Coffin. "I juggled it last year, but couldn't do it again."

Earlier this year, Coffin told the Herald on Sunday that it was almost impossible to switch off; how she would wake at 2am with a coaching idea, only to dismiss it hours later.

Coffin, who retired at the end of the 2010 season, has also made the leap from playing to coaching at the same club faster than just about anyone in New Zealand sport.

Coffin is employed as a back-up reader on ONE News, as well as producer and newsreader with TVNZ 7. She also works for Maori TV.

Coffin said Fuller was "gutted but not entirely surprised" when she was told of the decision. Sources close to the team said the pair made an ideal combination and seemed to gel from the start, which makes Coffin's departure a real blow for the Mystics.

"It's a big loss," said Mystics CEO Mark Cameron. "She has been fantastic over the past season. We hope one day, maybe in a few years, she will be able to return."

Cameron says the Mystics now have plenty of options.

"Jenny-May is just one part of the equation," says Cameron. "We still have our coach, our trainer, our technical staff including Lyn Gunson, so it is just about adding to the skillset of the coaching team."

Fuller is the defensive specialist, so the franchise will be looking for people who can cover midcourt and attack.

Cameron expects to make an appointment over the next two to three months.

The positive stance of Coffin and Cameron is admirable, but there must be some furrowed brows at Netball New Zealand as yet another young coaching talent leaves the game.

New Zealand is hardly over-endowed with experienced coaches, demonstrated by the lack of obvious contenders to replace Ruth Aitken (aside from Wai Taumanu) should she step down as Silver Ferns head coach.