Kath Tetley appointed as Thistles Head Coach
Karen Atkinson will join the board as Ken Hay is also confirmed as CEO
Following a global search, the board of Netball Scotland is delighted to announce that Kath Tetley has been appointed as the Thistles’ new Head Coach to lead them to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
Kath brings a wealth of senior level coaching and leadership experience working in the Australian Super Netball competition and Netball NSW Premier League.
She is currently the Executive General Manager of Super Netball Club the NSW Swifts and has been a successful Head Coach of GWS Fury in the NSW Premier League, the State’s highest-level pathway competition which has produced a host of Australian internationals.
She was also part of the underage NSW State Team program which won gold at the Australian Netball Championships in 2022. In addition to her Head Coach responsibilities, Kath will also serve as Performance Director for Netball Scotland.
Kath will be joining Netball Scotland in September following the end of the Australian Super Netball season.
Kath has Scottish heritage and in 2022 was quoted saying that coaching the Thistles would be a dream coaching role and something to which she aspires. Netball Scotland is delighted to be making Kath’s dream come true.
In parallel to Kath starting, Karen Atkinson MBE, former Performance Director for Netball Scotland, will be joining the board of Netball Scotland with specific responsibility for Performance, taking on that responsibility when Cat Semple concludes her term on the board at the AGM in September.
The board of Netball Scotland have also confirmed Ken Hay as the new permanent CEO of the organisation following his initial 6 months as Interim CEO.
Lucy Faulkner, Chair of Netball Scotland:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Kath will be joining Netball Scotland as the new Head Coach. Her appointment completes the restructuring of the senior team over the last 12 months, with Carol Harvey joining as Director of Development, Karen Dunn becoming Director of Finance and Operations, and Ken Hay being confirmed as permanent Chief Executive.
“Together with a refreshed board including Karen Atkinson agreeing to join, we are now looking forward to the next chapter of Netball Scotland and netball in Scotland with optimism and excitement.”
Kath Tetley:
“I’m truly honoured to have been appointed as the new Head Coach of the Thistles. I’m so ambitious for netball in Scotland and for the Thistles at all levels, and am really looking forward to working with all the coaches and players in driving the team towards the Netball World Cup in 2027.
“It’s a dream come true for me to be reconnecting with my Scottish roots and I can’t wait to join the team, in person, in September.”
Ken Hay, CEO of Netball Scotland:
“Kath’s passion, experience and maturity all shone through during the selection process. But it was her vision for the future of the Thistles and how Scotland can develop as a netball playing and netball loving nation which set her apart. Her commitment to the role and to Scotland will see her and her husband relocate to Scotland in the autumn, and I can’t wait to for her to join the Netball Scotland team.”
Karen Atkinson MBE, former Performance Director with Netball Scotland:
“I am extremely excited about Kath’s appointment. She is an impressive individual with such depth of experience. She’s exactly what the Thistles need at this time and will create a fantastic high-performance programme and environment for the athletes in Scotland. I’m also pleased to be joining the board of Netball Scotland, to work alongside Kath and the rest of performance team, and continue to support them into this new cycle”.