After getting a taste of coaching the Calder Cannons girls program this year, Nic Tenabel jumped at the chance to take on the role permanently.
An assistant coach, Tenabel stepped up as caretaker co-coach earlier this year alongside Ross Smith when he had to step back due to medical reasons.
Smith stepped down from the role at the end of the season and Cannons looked to Tenabel to fill the role.
The Cannons announced in late September that Tenabel will be the first full time female coach for the Cannons.
“It was always, do what was right for the program and care take while having Ross there, with the intention that he would come back,” she said.
“For me, I looked at it as a learning opportunity. It was really exciting.
“It’s obviously sad to see Ross go in his terms of retirement and all of that. I must have gone OK.”
Tenabel said it was pretty sad when Smith announced that he was retiring after having a pivotal role in the program for so long.
The pair had spoken about Tenabel one day taking on a head coaching role somewhere
“I had really spoken to Ross, even the year before, just if an opportunity of a head coaching role comes up about just getting his support and his mentoring along the way,” she said.
“When he let us know, he looked at me, like to say go for it. I was pretty quick to go for it when the application link went live.”
Tenabel said being the first full time female coach was exciting.
She said she felt it was inspirational for other female coaches as well.
“You come into a male dominated sport and it’s pretty special to now be full time, female head coach in such an aspiring unique opportunity.
“Someone said how would you explain your coaching career. I said to them it like going to the glow caves it’s all dark and you don’t know what to expect then it opens up with beautiful surroundings, it surprises you.
“That’s a big part. You’re such an influence on young talent coming through, getting players drafted at the end of the season is special.”
Tenabel said they had implemented a few of her ideas this season and she’ll now look to put a bit more of her spin on it.
She said things won’t change too much.
“Hopefully see a little bit of Nic speciality in how the players move the ball, hopefully see the benefits in terms of getting some players drafted.”
