Former Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua has been appointed Southern Steel coach for next year.
Taurua replaces Janine Southby at the franchise, who after four seasons has been appointed Silver Ferns head coach.
Taurua is New Zealand's most successful ANZ Championship head coach, having guided the Magic to the competition final in 2012, and the semifinals in every year of her six-year tenure.
Noeline Taurua had applied unsuccessfully for the Silver Ferns coaching role, and has most recently been working with the Northern Mystics as an assistant coach.