Julie Fitzgerald has stepped down as coach of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic to return home to Sydney.
She will take up the role of head coach of Netball NSW's new team for the 2017 National Netball League in a 3-year appointment.
Fitzgerald has been at the helm of the Magic since 2014 guiding them to the ANZ Championship Finals Series every year and overseeing the development of a number of current and future stars of New Zealand Netball.
Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty CEO Tim Hamilton said that while they are disappointed to lose a coach of the calibre and standing of Fitzgerald they are thankful for the role she has played and her commitment to developing Netball in the region.
"It was been a real privilege to work with Julie these past three years," Hamilton said.
"She is a true professional, always has the best interests of her players at heart and has been an absolute asset to Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty."
"She leaves us with our best wishes and we thank her family whole-heartedly for allowing us to have her for as long we did - she will always be part of the Magic family."
Fitzgerald said that she has loved every minute of her time in the Waikato Bay of Plenty and will be eternally grateful to all the wonderful people she had met and worked with.
Hamilton will now start the search for a new coach ahead of the 2017 ANZ Netball Elite League immediately.
