Former Silver Ferns netballer Jenny-May Coffin has been confirmed as the new assistant coach for the Northern Mystics for next year’s trans-Tasman trophy.

Coffin was confirmed last week as the assistant to new coach Debbie Fuller, the Mystics’ chief executive Mark Cameron said today.

The coaching positions were made vacant after this year’s coach Te Aroha Keenan stepped down.

Cameron said Coffin was a good fit for the franchise.

“Debbie Fuller was more of a defensive specialist and it was important we got someone for the other end of the court to balance that up,” he told NZPA.

“Jenny-May’s well respected by not only the players but also the coaching staff, she’s very knowledgeable about the game and has good leadership qualities.”

It had been expected Coffin would take up the position once Fuller was promoted from assistant coach but Cameron insisted Coffin’s appointment had been contestable.

Coffin played some matches from the bench for the Mystics this year but Cameron said he didn’t expect she would be a player-coach next year.