Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) is pleased to announce that Natalie Hurst will join the 2degrees Tall Ferns programme as its Interim Head Coach.
Hurst is well-known in Australia as a tenacious point guard and floor leader, having steered the Canberra Capitals to seven league championships in the WNBL and playing 290 games over 13 seasons. She has also represented Australia at national team level; playing 17 games for the Australia junior national team and suiting up for the Australian Opals from 2009-2013, including Gold medal finishes at three FIBA Oceania Championships.
Hurst also enjoyed a successful career in Europe from 2012-2017, suiting up for Uni Györ and Hatay BB in Women’s Euroleague and also for PEAC-Pécs in Eurocup Women. In 2020 she transitioned into the professional coaching ranks, joining the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL as an assistant coach for two seasons before being named head coach in 2022.
The 2degrees Tall Ferns Interim Head Coach role will see Natalie leading the team through a pair of exciting campaigns in 2024; a two-game friendly tour of Japan in July with a Tall Ferns Select Team, and a three-game FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifier series in Mexico in August – the 2degrees Tall Ferns first step in qualifying for the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026.
Hurst says she is excited at the prospect of leading the team during a vital development phase for the New Zealand women’s programme.
“I’m super-honoured to be given this caretaker role, it’s a short term role but I’m trying to look long-term as well – so hopefully I can come in, make a good impression on the girls and they feel comfortable with me,” says Hurst.
“I played a bunch of Oceania games against New Zealand and they were always tough and physical; they always took it to us hard and never gave up – I love that mentality and tough grit. We want to be a physical team and we want to continue representing ourselves the best way we can.
“We’ve got two big focuses now; the Japan tour and then three games in Mexico, so we want to be prepared as best we can to go out there and put our best foot forward.”
BBNZ High Performance Programme Manager (Women) and ex-Tall Fern, Lisa Wallbutton – who battled against Natalie in two of those FIBA Oceania Championship series – believes that Hurst will bring a performance edge and fresh energy to the programme.
“We’ve recruited Natalie for her high character, alignment with BBNZ values and her ability to build solid relationships with athletes. She knows what a winning culture looks like – having won seven WNBL championships, playing for the Opals and having a successful career playing in Europe,” says Wallbutton.
“With many of our athletes coming back to the Tall Ferns from professional programmes in Australia, Europe and some really good collegiate programmes in the US, we believe Nat has the expertise to progress these athletes – both technically and tactically – and hold them to high professional standards.”
Wallbutton says that following the 2degrees Tall Ferns historic four-place finish at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in 2023, the programme has set some lofty aspirations for itself leading up to 2028.
“In the next four years, we are aiming for a top 20 FIBA world ranking and to qualify for our next pinnacle events on the calendar – the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026, 2028 Olympics and a top four finish at FIBA Asia Cup 2025. And 2024 is an important part of that process for us; we are looking to strengthen our depth chart and gain experience and exposure through playing these international games.
“This year alone we have the potential for 13 international games, and are currently building out a competitive global games calendar for 2025.”
Hurst hopes to continue building on the foundations that ex-Tall Ferns coach Guy Molloy had developed over his six years in the role.
“The Tall Ferns style of play has changed over the years, as it has with many countries. This current group that Guy has put together, they play quick, they spread the floor and they have athletes who can dominate at the top level. They play a great brand of basketball.
“So I don’t want to come in with a change mindset; I don’t have a whole lot of time to come in and change things anyway and I wouldn’t want to. I think Guy has left the programme in a pretty good spot, so I just want to keep building on what he’s left behind over the next three months; keep chipping away and helping this team improve.”
Hurst says that the athletes are targeting a return to the FIBA Women’s World Cup, after they failed to qualify for the 2022 edition in Sydney.
“I’ve already spoken to some of the vets and leaders on this team, and definitely a massive goal for them is qualifying for the next World Cup; that’s what they’ve got their eyes on, and it makes me really excited to see how focussed they are on achieving this goal.”
The 2degrees Tall Ferns will return to the court next month, with a Select Team taking on Japan in two friendly games on 4 and 6 July in Tokyo, Japan. A squad for this two-game friendly series will be announced on Thursday 23 May.
