Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich seeks long-term extension when current contract ends

Marinkovich, 42, succeeded Lisa Alexander in 2020, when Australia did not hold either of the game’s two major titles for the first time since claiming the inaugural Commonwealth Games title in 1998.

She is contracted until December 31, but confirmed to CODE Sports her desire to continue through until the end of the following high performance cycle that will include the 2027 World Cup in Sydney.

“Just working through that with Netball Australia and then seeing where that leads to, but obviously I’m very keen to be involved with the Diamonds,’’ Marinkovich said.

“I think we’re doing some good things, we’ve been able to achieve a lot in the first two years of what would usually be a four-year cycle, and just looking to see what we can do when we’ve fully extended and expanded the high performance system as much as we can.’’

Asked whether she would like a full second term, given that her first was slightly shorter due to Alexander being granted a brief extension into 2020 after a record 102 Tests but one-goal losses in the two previous benchmark events, Marinkovich said: “Yeah, absolutely. It’s a pretty good job to be in.’’

An unexpected choice to many, with Melbourne Vixens premiership coach Simone McKinnis considered the favourite from a short list completed by another Diamonds great, Vicki Wilson, Marinkovich had a slightly shaky start in the role, with a 3-1 Constellation Cup loss in difficult Covid-related circumstances in New Zealand early in 2021.

But, having continued to coach the West Coast Fever for an eighth season before taking on the national job exclusively, the well-liked former Queensland Firebirds, Perth Orioles and Fever midcourter has built a 73 per cent record of success in her 26 Tests, with 19 wins, six losses and one draw.

The highlight was the gold medal performance in Birmingham last August during a near-perfect 2022 for the Diamonds, who also reclaimed the Quad Series and Constellation Cup titles and defeated the third-ranked England Roses.

In January, Australia retained its Quad Series crown in the squad’s last international outing before the July-August Netball World Cup in Cape Town, where defending champion New Zealand and an improved Jamaica — the Commonwealth Games silver medallists — loom as the greatest threats to the resurgent world No.1.

Marinkovich said she was unsure about the timeline for contract negotiations but, while it is believed a new deal will be finalised before the squad leaves for South Africa following a staging camp in Melbourne that starts on July 10, Netball Australia declined to confirm whether that would be the case.

“At the moment it’s with Netball Australia and obviously we’ll tee up a time just to work out what that process is actually going forward and whether it’s a renewal, it’s a recontracting, or whatever that might look like,‘’ she said.

“Netball Australia, through my appointment and everything else that they’ve done, have been really thorough in the process and reviewing and making sure that we’re aligned and we know the direction that we’re taking and things like that.

“So it’s part of a process that I’ll go through with them, but nothing’s been set just yet.’’

Marinkovich said the first phase of her role had been to “embed” herself as head coach while establishing NA’s new high performance system and structures. Since concentrating solely on the national job, she has had the chance to go into greater detail around player and rival team performances while “finding the balance of not overthinking everything’’.

Yet, as just the 15th woman to hold what is a highly coveted role in charge of the 11-time world champions, that early period in particular came with a high degree of scrutiny and judgement.

“Oh, as soon as you come into the Diamonds’ environment you’re expected to win, so there’s an automatic expectation, and I guess pressure can be perceived, as well,’’ she says, having also been criticised for several decisions during Australia’s historic defeat against Jamaica in a Commonwealth Games pool game in Birmingham, before the result was reversed in the final.

“I’m quite a methodical person and like to break things down and be able to tick the boxes along the way. So if you keep looking at the end result, yeah, the pressure can certainly mount, and certainly there’s a lot of passion around netball from our supporters, and it’s easy to get, not distracted, but I guess influenced in some ways if you open that door.

“But I think we’re so focused on the direction and what we’re trying to embed on the court and also just culturally around the group, that we’re kind of always in our bubble and always driven, and I guess that’s where I feel most supported …

“I think pressure is part of the job but it’s not the driving force of it.’’

As to whether she believes subsequent achievements have now vindicated her appointment, Marinkovich said: “I think what it did was Netball Australia backed me in to put a system together that I think could bring the best out in people and I think we’ve seen some great development of our players, we’ve continued to evolve the game plan and we’ve changed those close losses that were had into some close wins.

“So I don’t think I went into it having to prove anything to anyone. I think as soon as you have that mindset then you get stuck.

“For me it was just making sure that we were maximising the opportunities and that’s certainly what I was about is ‘I’ve got this chance to make a difference’ and I certainly couldn’t do it on my own.

“So I’m fortunate I’m surrounded by an absolute gun high performance team with a huge amount of knowledge and expertise and I’ve got a group of girls who are passionate, who are driven to succeed for each other and I feel really comfortable that we can do some even better things together.’’

More Coverage

Diamonds tracker: How injuries might impact World Cup squad

Emma Greenwood

Marinkovich, her husband Lindsay and three-year-old son Matthew relocated to her original home town of Brisbane after the 2018 Joyce Brown Coach-of- the-Year finished with the Fever.

With co-selectors Annie Sargeant and Michelle Wilkins, she is in the process of picking a Diamonds squad that will be announced after round seven of Super Netball, with the final 12 plus three travelling reserves to be named in June.

Tomorrow: Choosing which Diamonds will make the cut.