It has been a ''huge learning curve'' for Janine Southby since joining the Steel in 2012.
Then, she was co-coach with former Australian player Natalie Avellino.
Now, she is nearing the end of her third season solely in charge of the team.
While the team has not qualified for the playoffs in the ANZ Championship - a competition dominated by Australian teams - in the Southby era, there is hope that will change this season.
The new conference format, in which three New Zealand teams make the playoffs, has greatly increased the odds.
The Steel is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs if it wins its final games against the Northern Mystics and Queensland Firebirds - just another challenge in a job full of challenges, Southby said.
''You come to expect that there is always going to be challenges in a role like this. Particularly when you are working in a high-performance environment. It's not an easy time but I'm really enjoying the opportunity to do it,'' she said.
Southby has done a raft of coaching at primary school, secondary school, club, NPC and international level.
She played for the Western Flyers and Otago Rebels in the National Bank Cup competition, before retiring in 2003.
In 2004 and 2005, she worked under Lois Muir as the Rebels assistant coach, and was the New Zealand under-21 coach in 2010-13.
At the end of last year's ANZ Championship season, she even went back and coached her daughter's primary school team.
''I don't find that I get stale from coaching,'' Southby said.
''But I get tired. It's incredibly energy-sapping. It's one of those things where you have just been on the go and you get home from a game and it's straight on to the next game. You just don't get a break.''
Coaching the Steel also has challenges off the court, especially maintaining a balance with family and netball, she said.
''Even though you might be out for dinner with friends, or you might be at home trying to chill out or be a mum, it's always on the back of your mind. It's that 24/7 role.''
With the game becoming more physical, Southby's coaching has had to evolve, for which she gives much credit to a three-year coach accelerator programme, run by High Performance Sport New Zealand.
The final stretch of last season, when the Steel won four straight and barely missed out on a playoff berth, was a highlight for Southby since leading the team.
''We finished on a real high,'' she said.
''But I still think we're a growing team. We've taken a different tack this year. We've gone for a younger group of players and we're looking at really creating a franchise that is sustainable financially.
''We know going forward it's not viable to buy in the big names that have happened in the past, but it is a real challenge to attract players to this end of the country.''
Seven of the 12-strong Steel squad this year are under 23 years old, and the squad boasts exciting young talent such as Gina Crampton, Storm Purvis, Phoenix Karaka, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Stacey Peeters, Brooke Leaver and Sophia Fenwick.
The team has shown it can compete with the best teams in the competition, but lacks the ability to string together full 60-minute performances.
''I know our results have been like a roller coaster this year, and our performances at times have been like that, but I think we have made huge ground in that area,'' Southby said.
''Seeing the capabilities that they are putting out there - yes, I take it on board it's not for whole games - but there's certainly been some huge progress. I know that with more time these guys are going to come through and have the capabilities of winning this competition.''
Southby's name has been thrown around in netball circles to succeed Waimarama Taumaunu as Silver Ferns coach when the time comes, something she has not ''put heaps of thought into''.
''But if the opportunity comes up, then I will certainly have a really good think about it.
''But right now, I'm focused on creating the best Steel environment and best Steel team that I can, and right now I feel there is a lot of work to go in that space.''
Janine Southby
Vital statistics
Steel coaching record: 50 matches, 18 wins, 30 losses, 2 draws
Win percentage: 36%
