Netball Fiji is proud to announce Ms. Michelle McCormick-Parsons as Head Coach of the Fiji Netball Team, the Fiji Pearls.
Michelle Parsons hails from the Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and Nga Puhi iwi of New Zealand. She has a background in elite tactical coaching, high-level strategic pathways and high-performance management. She is a member of the Netball New Zealand High Performance Coach Community that prepares coaches for ANZ Premiership teams with an end goal of joining the Silver Ferns.
She was also the Pathways and High-Performance Manager for Touch NZ to the 2024 World Cup in England. Ms. Parsons holds a master’s degree in Sport Coaching (University of Queensland) and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Waikato.
In 2025 Ms. Parsons was a resource coach with the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership, head coach of the Northern Comets, the feeder team to the Norther Stars, and head coach of Counties Manukau.
Ms. Parsons coached Counties Manukau to its first ever NZ Netball Opens National Championship in 2025, and in 2024 coached the Northern Comets to the NNZ National Netball League Grand Final. She was also named Coach of the Year of the Netball New Zealand National League in 2024.
When asked about the opportunity Ms. Parsons said, “It is a profound honour to be appointed to this role with Netball Fiji. To be entrusted with the development of the Pearls is a responsibility I view as a true privilege, and I am both excited and deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the rich legacy of Fijian netball.”
“Having been fortunate enough to coach several wonderful Fijian women throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the incredible athleticism, heart, and innate talent they bring to the court. These players are both wonderful people and exceptional athletes. One of my immediate priorities is to re-engage with our talent pool; I am hopeful that the vision we are building for the Pearls will inspire many Fijian players to look toward representing their heritage and wearing the national dress,” she said.
In looking to the future she added, “I am most excited about the journey of growth we are about to embark on together. My plans for the Pearls are centered on building a world-class high-performance environment. one that honors the unique Fijian style of play while layering in the tactical and technical discipline and the physical robustness required to compete at the highest international level.”
She also said, “We are looking to elevate our international performance. I am committed to fostering a culture of excellence and belonging that empowers our athletes to find their new best. I cannot wait to get to work with the players, the staff, and the entire Netball Fiji community to see what we can achieve on the world stage.”
President of Netball Fiji, RubyAnn Sorovaki, said “On behalf of Netball Fiji I am thrilled to welcome Michelle on board as our new Head Coach. With her exceptional wealth of netball knowledge and her experience in building winning cultures and managing international high-performance pathways we are blessed to have her lead our Fiji Pearls and our High-Performance Coaching Program.”
Ms. Parsons will be based in Suva.
-ENDS-
For further details contact Loata Waqanivavalagi, Marketing and Communications Consultant on email loataw@gmail.com
