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Birmingham Panthers’ job gives Francis ‘surreal’ feeling
November 14, 2024
FORMER Sunshine Girls head coach, Connie Francis, has been appointed as Director of Netball for English club Birmingham Panthers.
Francis, who is currently in preparation mode with her team ahead of a stacked season, explained that getting the nod for the job was a "surreal" feeling.
"It's so surreal, the journey to secure this contract was great, especially with my agent Janet Johnson-Haughton on board," Francis said.
"At the Panthers, the setting is different compared to what I'm accustomed to in Jamaica, and I'm loving every minute of what I'm seeing when it comes to the preparation of players and how they go through what the coaches ask them to do," she stated.
Francis, a former Sunshine Girls captain and star shooter, brings a wealth of experience to the Panthers.
She stepped away from coaching the national team in 2023.
Under her guidance, Jamaica twice won the bronze medal at the World Netball Championships, in 2007 and 2023, and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
According to Francis, this is a move she has been eyeing for some time and will take patience in finding her footing in a foreign land.
"It's a welcoming change and I'm looking forward to seeing how far this journey can take me. I've always envisioned myself coaching full-time, it's something I've always wanted to do. I'm not overly confident to say 'yes, I can win a championship' as I know everything is a work in progress and the first thing is just to get on board with all the stakeholders and understand their culture," she explained.
Head coach of the team, Jo Trip, is pleased to have Francis on board as she's aware that her resume is a stacked and accomplished one.
"I am thrilled to welcome Connie Francis to Birmingham Panthers. She has experience at every level of the game and understands the importance of supporting athletes from the very start of their journey right through to the tip of their sport," Trip commented.
"Connie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team and with Connie on board, we look forward to an exciting season filled with growth, development and success for our athletes," Trip noted.
Francis added that while the task might be mammoth, her fellow coaches help in sharing the workload.
"It's not only one team because there's an under-17, under-19 and an under-23 team that feeds into the Panthers. The job is big but it's easy because the other coaches make it simple when it comes to communicating," Francis stated.
