Fiji Pearls name Michelle Parsons as new head coach

Netball Fiji has appointed high-performance coach Michelle Parsons as the new head coach of the Fiji Pearls, signalling a renewed push to elevate the national team’s international standing.

Ms Parsons, who hails from the Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and Nga Puhi iwi of New Zealand, brings extensive experience in elite tactical coaching, strategic pathways and high-performance management.

She is a member of the Netball New Zealand High Performance Coach Community, which prepares coaches for ANZ Premiership teams with the goal of progressing to the Silver Ferns set-up.

She also served as Pathways and High-Performance Manager for Touch NZ through to the 2024 World Cup in England.

Ms Parsons holds a Master’s degree in Sport Coaching from the University of Queensland and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Waikato.

In 2025, she worked as a resource coach with the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership, head coach of the Northern Comets — the feeder team to the Northern Stars — and head coach of Counties Manukau.

She guided Counties Manukau to its first-ever NZ Netball Opens National Championship title in 2025 and led the Northern Comets to the Netball New Zealand National Netball League Grand Final in 2024. She was also named Coach of the Year in the Netball New Zealand National League in 2024.

Speaking on her appointment, Ms Parsons said: “It is a profound honour to be appointed to this role with Netball Fiji. To be entrusted with the development of the Pearls is a responsibility I view as a true privilege, and I am both excited and deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the rich legacy of Fijian netball.”

“Having been fortunate enough to coach several wonderful Fijian women throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the incredible athleticism, heart, and innate talent they bring to the court. These players are both wonderful people and exceptional athletes. One of my immediate priorities is to re-engage with our talent pool; I am hopeful that the vision we are building for the Pearls will inspire many Fijian players to look toward representing their heritage and wearing the national dress,” she said.

“I am most excited about the journey of growth we are about to embark on together. My plans for the Pearls are centred on building a world-class high performance environment—one that honours the unique Fijian style of play while layering in the tactical and technical discipline and the physical robustness required to compete at the highest international level.”

“We are looking to elevate our international performance. I am committed to fostering a culture of excellence and belonging that empowers our athletes to find their new best. I cannot wait to get to work with the players, the staff, and the entire Netball Fiji community to see what we can achieve on the world stage.”

Netball Fiji president Ruby Ann Sorovaki welcomed the appointment.

“On behalf of Netball Fiji I am thrilled to welcome Michelle on board as our new Head Coach. With her exceptional wealth of netball knowledge and her experience in building winning cultures and managing international high-performance pathways we are blessed to have her lead our Fiji Pearls and our High-Performance Coaching Program.”

Ms Parsons will be based in Suva.