Mel Mansfield appointed as Wasps Head Coach

Mel Mansfield has been appointed as Wasps Netball’s new Head Coach.

The decision comes after Wasps won their second successive league title with a 55-51 win against Loughborough Lightning in the Vitality Netball Superleague Grand Final at the Copper Box Arena.

Tamsin Greenway will step down as Wasps Director of Netball but will remain with the Vitality Netball Superleague champions as a netball coach and brand ambassador.

Mansfield has more than 16 years of coaching experience and has been assistant coach for the senior team for the past two years, helping the club to become a major force in the domestic game.

She has coached in the Vitality Netball Superleague for nine years, including coaching in five Grand Finals.

Mansfield is also a senior lecturer in radiography at the University of Hertfordshire, where she also guided their netball team to BUCS national title success.

The university will be supporting Mansfield to allow her to take on the role at Wasps.

Mansfield said: “To take on a team that has just won back-to-back titles is no easy task. I’m well aware of the pressure that comes with this role but I’m excited.

“This is a step-up. I will be more accountable now but I’m confident we will contend strongly again next season.

“It’s always been important for me to keep my career going alongside netball, so I have to thank the University of Hertfordshire for their support in making this possible.

“Tamsin will always be at the end of the phone but this is a really nice feeling to know that this will be my group now.

“Next season’s team might look a bit different and we’ll have some new faces in the coaching team, but the important thing is the team culture we have at Wasps will stay the same.”

Team Manager Sarah Taylor has also been promoted to Franchise Manager and will take on a new strategic role with Wasps.

She added: “I’m really looking forward to taking on a more strategic role, whilst maintaining my hands on involvement with the squad.

“The first two seasons with Wasps have been phenomenal and I’m excited to work with Mel, Tamsin and our physio Andrew Holbrook to keep building on our success both on and off the court.

“We are fortunate to have such close links with Wasps Rugby and along with the support of the team at the Ricoh Arena, Wasps Netball will be looking to grow what we have worked so hard to set up over the past two years.”

Greenway, who was appointed as Wasps Director of Netball in June 2016, commented: “I will still have a role with Wasps but it is time for me to take a step back and enjoy what we have achieved over the past two seasons.

“Sarah has had a huge impact at Wasps. She has a vast knowledge of the sport and her understanding of the elite level of the game has grown and grown. The team love her and she is vital to pushing the team forward.

“I have worked with Mel for a long time and this is a great opportunity for her to work with the fantastic team we have here, she will relish the challenge and I’m looking forward to seeing how she takes the team to next level.”