Jenny Brazel appointed Queensland Suns Open Men’s Head Coach

Grace-Adele Willis, 11 Sep 2026

The Queensland Suns have appointed highly credentialled elite netball coach Jenny Brazel as Open Men’s Head Coach, bringing more than two decades of experience across Suncorp Super Netball, international netball and Queensland’s high-performance pathways to the program.

Brazel joins the Suns following four seasons as Assistant Coach of the Sunshine Coast Lightning from 2023 to 2026, adding another chapter to a coaching career that has spanned some of the highest levels of the sport.

Her résumé includes five seasons as Assistant Coach of the Queensland Firebirds across the ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball eras, including two premierships; Head Coach of the Fiji Pearls; Head Coach of Netball Queensland’s Elite Development Program and Queensland Fusion; involvement with Netball Australia’s under-age squads; and four Netball Queensland Coach of the Year awards.

For Queensland Suns President Joseph Webb, the appointment represents another significant step in the association’s ambition to establish a high-performance program that sets the standard for men’s and mixed netball.

“We are building the program that others measure themselves against — the benchmark for performance, governance and culture in this sport. Not the best men’s program. Not the best mixed program. The one people look at and want to replicate. “You do not get there by hoping. You get there by bringing in people who have already operated at the level you are aiming for. “Jenny has spent twenty years inside elite programs — Australian, Fijian and Queensland. She knows the standard because she has spent two decades working to it, and she is bringing it to the men’s and mixed game.”

Despite an extensive career in the women’s game, Brazel said the opportunity to work within the rapidly developing men’s netball landscape — and to help shape the next chapter of the Queensland Suns — was one she was excited to embrace.

“The Queensland Suns represented a genuine opportunity to build something meaningful — a competitive program with real potential for growth, development and success at the highest state level,” Brazel said. “Men’s netball is an exciting frontier in our sport. There is so much energy, ambition and untapped potential. “With this Open Men’s group, there is an opportunity to shape the culture, build an identity and develop a strong team capable of competing at the highest level.”

Brazel said she intends to draw on the lessons and standards developed throughout her time in SSN, international netball and Queensland’s elite pathways while creating a program that is distinctly Suns.

“My aim is to weave my past experiences into the Suns culture and the broader netball program to create a cohesive, high-performing team built on our depth of talent, our ambition and our commitment to excellence.”

Central to Brazel’s coaching philosophy is the belief that high standards and genuine care for athletes are not competing priorities.

She describes an environment built on trust and respect, where athletes are valued as people first, have a voice, and are able to be honest, make mistakes and continue developing without fear of judgement.

“Peak performance can be achieved when athletes are seen, valued and developed as whole people,” Brazel said. “It’s an environment of high performance and human care. We can uphold high standards and high expectations without compromising our values.”

That philosophy will underpin an Open Men’s program with significant emphasis on physical preparation, technical and tactical development, high-intensity court sessions and data-informed performance standards.

Just as importantly, Brazel wants to build strong relationships and clear communication across the group, creating the trust required for athletes and the team collectively to thrive.

For the Suns’ Open Men’s Captain, Lachlan Carter, Brazel’s appointment also brings the benefit of first-hand experience working with the new Head Coach during his time as a Sunshine Coast Lightning training partner.

“Jeno has great experience with the women’s game, and it will be exciting to see what she can bring to the men’s game and the Suns program this coming year. “While working with her as a Lightning training partner, I appreciated her ability to provide succinct guidance to help overcome issues on court. As a shooter, she has given me a lot of great advice on my positioning in different game situations.”

Webb said the significance of the appointment extends beyond the fortunes of one team, with the Open Men’s program expected to play an important role in establishing standards across the broader Suns environment.

“Our Open Men’s team sets the standard the rest of the program takes its lead from,” Webb said. “Jenny has nothing left to prove in this sport. She is here because she wants to be part of building something special, and we do not intend to waste that.”

For Brazel, that challenge is precisely what makes joining the Suns at this point so compelling.

“I feel the Queensland Suns are poised for a significant new chapter, and it’s exciting to be able to contribute to the competitive success and create a strong environment to grow that success. “I’m ready to embrace the challenge.”