Former Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant coach Lisa Alexander has been unveiled as Norma Plummer's successor as coach of the world champion Australian netball side.
Netball Australia said Alexander, a 47-year-old Melbourne-based teacher, takes over from Plummer, who opted not to reapply for the role after guiding the Diamonds defence of their world crown against the Silver Ferns at Singapore in July.
Alexander, the first national coach in more than 20 years to have never played for the national side, has experienced success at the elite level of domestic netball as head coach of the Melbourne Phoenix. She was also Jane Woodlands-Thompson's assistant when the Thunderbirds won the trans-Tasman championship last year.
Her first priority will be to prepare the national side for three-test series against England and the Silver Ferns during October.
Alexander said she was excited at the prospect of leading a new era for netball in Australia and embraced the challenge of following Plummer's successful eight-year reign.
"It's a great privilege to be the Australian Diamonds coach; I feel a great sense of responsibility to the legacy of all the icons that have come before me as coaches and players.
"I've been working at this for 17 years since I was the Australian apprentice coach to Joyce Brown," she said.
Netball Australia president Noeleen Dix said Alexander has been a proven and consistent contributor to the game in over 18 years of high performance coaching.
"We welcome her to her new role, as not only the national coach of the Diamonds but also as a leader in the high performance program for netball throughout Australia."
Diamonds and Thunderbirds captain Natalie von Bertouch welcomed the appointment.
"I think she will do a great job and I have a lot of support and respect for Lisa after having her as an assistant coach over the past few years.
"She has a great ability to get the most out of the players and brings with her lots of technical and tactical strengths."
