With the two-year deal Wills, a former New Zealand Under-21 and Fast5 Ferns coach, will relocate to Brisbane to join the Firebirds ahead of the 2025 SSN season.
A former New Zealand Under-21 international player, Wills joins the Firebirds with extensive coaching in high performance roles including leading the Northern Stars in the New Zealand ANZ Premiership since 2018 – taking the club to three grand finals in that time.
Wills also guided New Zealand to gold at the World Youth Cup in Botswana in 2017 and the Fast5 Netball World Series title in 2016.
“I am honoured and excited about coaching the Queensland Firebirds,” Wills said.
“Players and coaches around the world look on with envy at the calibre of the Suncorp Super Netball competition so it is a giant step for me.
“The Firebirds have a history of being a formidable club and I am looking forward to rolling my sleeves up and working in partnership with the players, the team staff and Netball Queensland to work our way back to the top."
Wills’ coaching experience, knowledge and strategic focus made her a standout candidate for the role according to Firebirds Chief Executive Kate Davies.
“At every step of the thorough recruitment process, Kiri displayed not just her extensive netball knowledge but also her capabilities with implementing and leading a whole-of-club strategy to foster a team performance culture of the highest standard,” Davies said.
“Kiri obviously has extensive experience coaching at the high-performance level as well as a proven track record in talent identification and development having been the Silver Ferns Development Squad Coach in New Zealand for many years alongside her role with the Stars.
“Most importantly, we feel that Kiri has the tools to create a high-performance culture at the Firebirds that is anchored in identity, meaning and positivity combined with serious credibility in technical and tactical coaching, to enable our club to achieve the success we all crave.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kiri and her family to the Purple Family and look forward to helping them settle into their new home and engaging with the community.”
Wills will be immediately engaged in discussions on recruitment for the 2025 SSN campaign as well as the process of appointing the assistant coach.
