Anna Carter named Loughborough Lightning director of netball
Thursday 21 September 2017 19:23, UK
Loughborough Lightning have confirmed Anna Carter has their new director of netball, replacing outgoing head coach Karen Atkinson.
Carter has been working as the Lightning U21 head coach, leading the team to victory in the season-ending tournament and she will head up a new look coaching team for the 2018 Vitality Netball Superleague season.
Assistant Coaches Olivia Murphy and Maggie Birkinshaw will support new Pathway Head Coach Emily Perry in a four-strong unit as Lightning aim to go one better than last season.
Atkinson is leaving her position having led Loughborough to the top of the 2017 Superleague table only to ultimately lose to Wasps in the Grand Final and she will take charge of the team for the last time at Saturday's British Fast5 All-Stars Championship.
Carter is a former England international, and at student level has led Leeds Beckett to three BUCS Championships and four league wins as well as an England Netball technical coach and National Academy selector.
"I'm very excited to be appointed to this role with Loughborough Lightning, to have the privilege of working with some great athletes, and to build a strong squad for the season ahead - a Commonwealth Games season," said Carter.
"I'm passionate about developing athletes to be their best and absolutely delighted to working alongside Maggie and Liv.
"We will do our utmost to build on the superb legacy that Karen has left."
Carter will combine the role with the position of director of netball at Leeds Rhinos Netball, a performance development pathway in Yorkshire and at Loughborough succeeds Atkinson who is heading for a new role in Italy.
"We are delighted to welcome Anna to Loughborough University as our new Director of Netball," Loughborough Executive Director of Sport John Steele said.
"Anna comes with a strong playing and performance coaching pedigree and it will be exciting to watch progress as she heads up our coaching team alongside Olivia Murphy, Maggie Birkinshaw and other guest coaches.
"We are very proud of our team's achievements and our athletes who have gone on to win age group and senior caps in the past year.
"Anna has some big shoes to fill - Grand Finalists in the Superleague and BUCS Champions last season - but we are confident she can build on last year's success."
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