The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) has appointed Jacqui Illman as its new Netball Head Coach, who brings with her an elite level of experience and qualifications.

Illman is a premiership winning Head Coach for South Australia’s Australian National Championship team and Matrics Netball Club, one of the largest and most successful clubs in the state.

She was the title winning coach for the Southern Force at the 2022 Australian Netball Championships and led Matrics to six Premier League premierships in the 12 seasons she has coached the team.

Illman's focus on building a positive team culture, developing technical skills, and supporting players' mental and emotional wellbeing will undoubtedly benefit the SASI netball program.

“As a coach, particularly in high-performance and team sport, we have the opportunity to develop in players some of the most important life skills and therefore develop not only great athletes, but good people as well,” Illman said.

“My coaching philosophy is about creating an environment that allows athletes to maximise their potential.

“This starts with building authentic relationships, making it enjoyable, and having a holistic approach to development.”

Illman’s experience as an educator, having taught Health, Physical Education, and Science in secondary schools for nearly 20 years, has also given her valuable skills in leadership, communication and relationship-building.

SASI Director Wes Battams welcomed Illman to the institute and expressed his confidence in her ability to lead the netball program to new heights.

“We are delighted to welcome Jacqui to the SASI team,” Battams said.

“Her impressive technical and coaching record coupled with her outstanding people and stakeholder relations skills make her an exceptional choice to lead our netball program.

“We are confident that under Jacqui's guidance, our athletes will have the support and expertise they need to achieve their goals and reach their full potential."

With the support of SASI and Netball SA, Illman will initially take up the SASI Head Coach role part-time while she fulfills her commitment to coaching Matrics Netball Club for the 2023 Premier League season.

At the conclusion of the season, Illman will commence with SASI in a full-time capacity.