Netball Super League | Dan Ryan returns to Manchester Thunder

Dan Ryan is rejoining the Manchester Thunder coaching line-up for the 2019 Vitality Netball Superleague season.

The Australian 34-year old was the team’s Director of Netball for the 2016 campaign where he took Thunder to the Grand Final. His success in the UK saw him being headhunted by Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Suncorp Super Netball league where he spent two seasons as Head Coach.

He has now moved into international coaching, recently becoming Head Coach of eighth-ranked Northern Ireland ahead of next year’s Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool.

While based in the UK, Dan will work alongside Thunder’s Director of Netball Karen Greig as an Assistant Coach and will supplement the elite programme, offering workshops to coaches and players from across the North West.

Dan Ryan said: “I’m so excited to be rejoining my Thunder family. I love this club and have so many fond memories from the 2016 season, so I can’t wait to reconnect with everyone again.

“Karen has done an incredible job with the team over the past few years and I’m really looking forward to supporting her and going a few steps further next season.

“There’s something special about this club and the people in it and I’m confident we are set for a really successful and enjoyable season”

Thunder Director of Netball Karen Greig said: “I loved working with Dan when he was with us at Thunder in 2016 so am thrilled he’s back in black and yellow. As Assistant Coach, alongside the brilliant Gabrielle Towell, his experience across all units and across all parts of the court will bring a new dimension to the coaching team.

“It is also exciting that during a year when netball is in the spotlight here in the North West we will have one of the international coaches taking a team to the World Cup as part of our set up.”

Thunder Managing Director Debbie Hallas added: “We are thrilled to have Dan back in the Thunder fold. He was successful here in his brief last stint and has unfinished business. Alongside Karen and Gabs, we have created a diverse team that can take Thunder to even more success in 2019.”

See Manchester Thunder in action at Super 10 – get your squad together and head to the season opener on Saturday 5th January 2019 at Arena Birmingham!

Tickets for Thunder’s home games are available from https://www.manchesterthunder.co.uk/superleague/tickets/