New coaches at Sirens

Lesley MacDonald announced as Strathclyde Sirens Head Coach and Claire Maxwell announced as Assistant Coach/Player for the 19-20 Superleague Season

Today we are thrilled to announce the appointment of Lesley MacDonald as Strathclyde Sirens Head Coach and Claire Maxwell in an Assistant Coach and Player role for the 19-20 season.

Following the appointment of Karen Atkinson as Technical Director, Lesley and Claire will work with Karen to deliver an unprecedented Superleague programme that will also play an integral role within Netball Scotland’s wider performance strategy.

Lesley MacDonald has a wealth of experience being Scotland’s highest ever capped player of 132 international games played, as well as racking up over 9 years of high-performance coaching experience, most notably acting as Assistant National Coach at the recent Netball World Cup 2019 and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 alongside Gail Parata.

As for Claire Maxwell, she recently achieved her 100^th international cap at the Netball World Cup 2019 and has Captained Sirens since inception in 2017 as well as the National Squad since 2016. Claire has extensive coaching experience having acted as Assistant National Coach for Scotland’s U21s, most notably supporting Lesley at the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana in 2017 where their team finished in it’s highest ever place of 8^th. On top of all of this, Claire also created, and has been leading the delivery of, the industry recognised and hugely powerful Sirens for Success community impact programme which has improved the lives of thousands of vulnerable teenage girls across Scotland.

Lesley MacDonald said: “I am extremely honoured and grateful to be given the opportunity to lead the Strathclyde Sirens into their fourth season. I am excited to be working alongside Karen Atkinson and also to re-establish the coaching partnership with the inspirational Claire Maxwell.

I have big shoes to fill, but I’m looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead. I cannot wait for our first home game and to have our amazing supporters behind our new Strathclyde Sirens.”

Claire Maxwell said: “I am really excited about this opportunity and to continue to grow as a person, player and coach during the 2020 Strathclyde Sirens season. I am very passionate about this team and franchise and I will endeavour to do my best to enhance the programme further.”

Karen Atkinson said: “These are exciting times at Strathclyde Sirens, and I am thrilled that Lesley MacDonald will be leading the squad in the forthcoming season, ably assisted by Claire Maxwell.  The fact that Sirens has two up and coming coaches of the calibre of Lesley and Claire is phenomenal and I am a big believer in investing in your own people.  Lesley is an extremely knowledgeable and driven individual who understands high-performance sport.  She is also a quality person with high values and self-awareness which to me are the foundations of an excellent coach.  Claire is the heartbeat of the Strathclyde Sirens.  She is passionate, knowledgeable and demands high standards from herself and those around her.  I am excited to be working with them both as we look to provide the best possible preparation for the Sirens squad ready for the 2020 season.”

We also want to take this time to say a massive thank you to Gail Parata for her incredible work with the squad over the last 3 seasons. Gail will now take this time to focus on the National Programme and her Head of Performance role at Netball Scotland.