Alexander too is determined to improve netball's profile in Australia, but believes the way to do so is emphasising the positives about the sport.
"I believe that we're involved in a terrific sport, that's a uniquely female sport and it's a great opportunity for us to show leadership to females. That is an area that is done very well in New Zealand and it is an area I am passionate about. In Australia we need to lift our profile and lift our brand."
Players as role models? Inspiring young women? You can almost hear the collective yawn of sports editors. Idealistic she may be, but boring Alexander is not.
She is engaging, has a wry sense of humour and apparently has an unknown poetic talent.
Like her take on the Silver Ferns midcourt sans Temepara George - "I won't underestimate Laura Langman and Liana Leota one iota"; or on the challenge of taking on the Silver Ferns under a new coach themselves - "I've certainly got a mind's eye to what change-ups there might be under Wai".
Alexander's measured, yet frilly way of speaking mirrors her coaching philosophy, which combines old-school values with new-age ideas. The former Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant coach said she pays just as much attention to the mental preparation of the team as she does the physical. She hopes this will be evident in Australia's performance this weekend against a Silver Ferns side eager for revenge after their world championship heartbreak in July.
"I have certainly worked very hard on the psychology of the team and we have our themes and what we're working towards as a group and that is very deliberate," she said.
But despite being worlds apart in terms of personality, Alexander's approach is not all that dissimilar to Plummer's - both demand quality and intensity in their trainings, and have uncompromising standards.
It's not surprising then that Alexander nominates Plummer as being one of the most influential figures in her coaching career. The former defender, who is the first Australian coach not to have donned the yellow dress, was mentored by Plummer in the 1985 and 1986 Victorian State team, and worked closely with the veteran, including a stint with the Australian under-21 side in 2006.
Some outside of netball have questioned how an assistant coach of a franchise side could leap straight in to the Diamonds' top job. But Alexander is by no means a rookie, she led the Melbourne Phoenix to back-to-back titles in Australia's old domestic league, presiding over a hugely dominant period in the club's history, so she is comfortable calling the shots.
"It's a bit like being the Prime Minister of a country sometimes, you try and lead as best you can but sometimes people aren't going to be happy with what you do. You just have to be resilient and make sure you're pretty firm in what you're going to do and implement it. Which is what I'm planning on doing." After much consideration no doubt.
Lisa Alexander
Australian Diamonds coach
* 2008-2011 Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant/specialist coach
* 2009 Assistant coach - World 7 team
* 2006 Head coach Australian under-21 team
* 2002-2004 Head Coach Melbourne Phoenix & Victorian Institute of Sport.
