Jenny Brazel - Sapphire Head Coach
Jen Brazel is always very dedicated to her players and the continuous growth of her coaching craft. Jen fell in love with the game of Netball at a very young age and over many years she’s been sharing her passion for the game as a High Performance Coach and Mentor. With over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels, including *5 years as the Queensland Firebirds Assistant Coach *Head Coach for the NQ Elite Development program *Queensland State Under Age teams and Qld Fusion Head and Assistant Coaching roles over 8 years. *Netball Australia pathway selector and coaching roles. Jen’s most recent experience as the Head Coach of the Netball Fiji Pearls National team has only added to her coaching skills. She brings high energy and enthusiasm along with her game knowledge, coaching skills and her competitive spirit meaning she has tasted much success over many years. Jen is excited to be coaching her first season with Thunder and is very much looking forward to creating a nurturing and competitive environment for everyone involved
Simone Nalatu - Sapphire Assistant Coach
Simone Nalatu is the current Queensland 19/U coach, Queensland Sapphires Assistant Coach and Netball Australia Centre Court Coach for the 17&Under and 19&Under Australia TID squads. Previous to this Simone coached the Queensland 17/U in 2017 & 2018 and has coached in Queensland’s premier state league competitions in a head coach or assistant coach role. Before coaching, Simone played at the elite level for the Queensland Firebirds, Suncoast Lynx and she was a member of the Netball Fiji World Cup teams in 2007 & 2011. Simone is looking forward to her first year with Thunder and even working with some athletes she has seen throughout her experiences with the State Squads!
Carmel D'Arcy - Sapphire Team Manager
Kerriance (KC) Farrelly - Ruby Head Coach
Proud Tongan QueeNZlander‼️👊🏽😂
– 5x Queensland U19 Assistant Coach 2017(silver), 2018 5th, 2019 (bronze), 2020 & 2021 Nationals cancelled- COVID-19
– USC Thunder – Inaugural Ruby Head Coach 2019
– Netball Queensland EDP coaching presenter & ASC accredited netball coaching presenter 2010 – current
– Queensland Country Head Coach 2017 & A/coach 2016
– Fraser Coast Netball Development program 2018, 2021 Head coach & Hervey Bay Opens QLD premier league coach 2017
– As a player represented in volleyball and netball at elite levels in New Zealand including New Zealand Combine Defence Services 1998 – 2000, New Zealand Police Netball team & New Zealand Maori teams
Nita Veronica (Roni) Anderson - Ruby Assistant Coach
Born in Samoa, Roni grew up in South Auckland, New Zealand playing netball and developing a love and passion for the game. Roni continued playing when she moved to Australia with her young family, 14 years ago. Roni has played and coached over many years coaching Junior and Senior club teams and progressed through State Age representative and QPL teams as a Regional Coach. Roni is a proud Thunder Pathway Coach coming through the USC Netball Academy Coaching Program, progressing through the Thunder State Titles teams as an Apprentice Coach and most recently Head Coach of the USC Thunder U16’s team. Roni is excited to be working with some amazing coaches and athletes with USC Thunder in 2022, bringing her passion for building a great team culture and continuing her coaching journey with the USC Thunder franchise.
Rebecca McDonald - Ruby Apprentice Coach
Growing up in Adelaide, Rebecca was at the side of a netball court before she could walk. Since moving to the Sunshine Coast in 2017, Bec has been heavily involved in the local netball community. Bec found her home as part of Caloundra District Netball Association. Here she has been a committee member, club coach, rep coach and is still a current player in the Thunder Premier League. In 2020 she joined the Thunder family as an Apprentice Coach for the State Titles campaign and continued this in 2021 as an Assistant Coach. Bec’s philosophy as a coach is to understand each person, deeper than just their ability to play netball and to create an environment where everyone performs at their best, on and off the court.
Melissa (Mel) Butt - Ruby Team Manager
Mel holds University Degrees in Communications and Sociology, with experience in major sporting event organisation dating back to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay. Mel also worked as a Media and Communications Liaison volunteer at the Sydney 2015 Netball World Cup.
In 2019, Mel was awarded the NQ Community Coach of the Year and in 2020 was the USC Thunder U18 State Championship Team Assistant Coach. Currently a Representative Coach with the Sunshine Coast Netball Association, she is undertaking her Advanced Coach Accreditation. Mel is dedicated to helping our talented athletes grow as great players and equally great people.
Jodie Tully - Physical Performance Coach
Jodie Tully is a Level 2 Professional ASCA Strength and Conditioning coach and a Level 2 certified Running Coach for developmental to high performance athletes. Jodie has a passion for working in womens sport and currently works with the Queensland Youth Women’s Rugby XV’s Team. Jodie’s coaching philosophy starts with a whole person approach, athletes are people first and athletes second. She believes in educating and empowering athletes to move better and train smarter while building a training environment that cultivates self-discipline and develops a positive performance culture.
Samuel Muller - Physiotherapist
Samuel has been a Registered Physiotherapist since 2014. During his time as a Physiotherapist, Samuel has completed the Level 1 and Level 2, APA Sports Physiotherapy courses, in addition to the Level 1 APA Spinal course. In 2019, Samuel began his Post Graduate study, beginning his Masters of Sports Physiotherapy through LaTrobe University.
Samuel has been actively involved in sport through playing Rugby Union at club and representative levels. Samuel represented NSW Schoolboys for Rugby Union. He also played Grade Rugby at Randwick Rugby Club, in Sydney, and recently, the University of the Sunshine Coast Barbarians. This Involvement has led to a keen interest in Sports Physiotherapy. Samuel has been the Physiotherapist to many local and state level sporting teams across rugby, touch football and Football (Soccer). Through his study and Sports Physiotherapy experience, Samuel has a keen interest in the assessment and management of all Sporting and Musculoskeletal injuries including those to the groin, knee, ankle and neck.
Outside of the clinic, Samuel enjoys keeping active through Crossfit, Rugby Union and Touch Football.
Ellie Meyer - Operations Manager
Ellie holds a Bachelor of Business in Tourism, Leisure and Events Management with the experience of being a part of USC Thunder since the beginning, aiding in community, events and media for the club.
Further to this, she has worked with the Sunshine Coast Lightning coordinating the Australian Netball League Competition. Ellie brings a wide range of knowledge in events and media to aid the club in their events, operations and media.