The Good Oil Tactix appoint new assistant coach

Former Canterbury coach Tania Hoffman will bring five years coaching experience in the United Kingdom to her new role as The Good Oil Tactix assistant coach.

Hoffman, who guided the province to multiple national titles before heading overseas to coach in the UK’s Netball Superleague, has taken on a joint role as assistant coach of the Tactix in the ANZ Premiership and Mainland Development Coach overseeing the National Netball League (NNL) performance pathway for Mainland netballers.

She takes over from former Silver Fern Julie Seymour who has stepped down as assistant coach but will continue to work with the Tactix in a specialist coaching role in the midcourt. Seymour will also continue her role as Mainland’s NNL head coach.

Hoffman, who will work alongside Tactix head coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek, said she was looking forward to being a part of the 2022 ANZ Premiership having watched all the Tactix games while living in Wales where she was Director of Netball of Celtic Dragons.

“I’ve been so impressed with where the Tactix have taken their game and am excited to see what I can add to the mix,” she said.

“I’d like to be able to bring what I’ve learned overseas to the Tactix and have a point of difference.”

Delaney-Hoshek said Hoffman would bring a wealth of coaching experience to the position and her roles with the Tactix and NNL would add something different to the Tactix environment.

“Tania has led various programmes during her time overseas but has also kept connected with the system over here, so we’re looking forward to what she can bring to the Tactix mix.”

Tasked with strengthening Mainland’s pathway programme into the NNL and ANZ Premiership will be another key area of focus for Hoffman along with developing relationships with Mainland’s netball community to support Netball Centres in the region and helping to grow a broad base of players who aspire to be Tactix players in the future.

“Geographically it’s a challenge with one of the biggest areas to cover but the goal is to see as many netballers as possible from Mainland reaching that level of franchise netball – whether that be with the Tactix or the potential to play for other franchises,” Hoffman said.

“It’s great to have that real focus on home-grown players. I remember well the era of Canterbury players who went on to play for the Silver Ferns and New Zealand Under-21s, and I’d love to see Mainland’s netballers up there again.”

Tactix General Manager Haidee Stratford said they were delighted to announce Hoffman as the new assistant coach while retaining the netball nous of Seymour at both Premiership and NNL levels.

“We’re fortunate to gain someone with Tania’s coaching experience and passion for the red-and-black but also retaining the midcourt expertise that Julie has brought to the Tactix in recent years and her links with the NNL team,” she said.

Stratford also announced two new apprentice coaches who would join the Tactix environment, naming Geni Ah Tong and Dennis Napara to be involved with the 2022 campaign.

This year’s Grand Finalists return to pre-season training from November 29 with the Tactix’ 2022 ANZ Premiership season starting on March 13 when they host the Steel at Christchurch Arena.