Kylie Marshall takes on pioneering role for Pirates
The coaching lineup for the Queensland Pirates Men’s team looks a bit different this year, and that’s because the team from the Sunshine State has welcomed Kylie Marshall to the helm.
Guiding the team with her wealth of experience and strategic prowess, Marshall says the opportunity to return to the club and coach the Men’s side is special.
“I was an Assistant Coach to the Women’s team in 2017 and 2018 and then Head Coach in 2019,” said Marshall. “Then COVID hit and everything changed.
“I decided to put my hand up again this year to coach either the Women’s or Men’s team and got the latter. Went through a whole interview process and won the position, and have now had the opportunity to spend some time working with the guys.
“I’m not going to say I was surprised to get the position, I definitely think I have the experience and the knowledge to be able to do it, but it is exciting to have been given the opportunity to take on the Men’s program at the senior level in Queensland.
“I’m currently coaching the junior guys and have done so off and on in different spaces but to have been given the opportunity to coach the men is quite rewarding.”
As the first female coach to lead a Men’s team during the Super League era, Marshall says the team has been incredibly welcoming and respectful.
“I have a good relationship with the team, they’ve accepted me as the Coach and they have trust in what I can offer,” she said.
“The fact that I’m a female hasn’t been mentioned once. I don’t know if any of them have had a female coach before either, so the way in which they’ve taken me in has been awesome.
“I think there is a level of respect there for me, I think they know that even though I haven’t played in quite a long time I still have that experience within the sport.”
The Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League is nearing its Finals Series, and Marshall and the team have already made improvements on their final placing from the previous season.
When asked about her advice to other female coaches looking to delve deeper into the high performance space, Marshall notes self-belief is crucial.
“I think it’s really about believing in your strength and thinking about how you’re going to add value to the group, regardless of the level they’re playing at,” she said.
“It’s not about gender, it’s about what you bring to the table and how you manage your athletes.
“If you can get your players to believe in what you’re asking them to do, then the team works well together.”
The Pirates travel to Sydney this Sunday to take on NSW Phoenix where a win will all but seal a place in the Finals Series for Marshall and the men’s team.
The men’s contest takes place at 3pm AEST followed by the women with both matches to be streamed on the AusVolley YouTube Channel.
