Coyle appointed Renegades coach

Melbourne Renegades have scored a major coup ahead of this summer’s Rebel Women’s Big Bash League, signing Southern Stars mentor Tim Coyle as their new head coach for WBBL|03.

Coyle, currently an assistant coach with the Australian women’s team, replaces Lachlan Stevens in the role, with Stevens to take on an assistant role under men’s BBL coach Andrew McDonald this summer.

Coyle, who coached Tasmania to three Sheffield Shield titles and two domestic 50-over gongs during an eight-year period as Tigers head coach, and who has also worked with the Australian men’s team in recent years, said he was looking forward to working with the Renegades outfit, who boast recent Australian debutant Molly Strano in their ranks.

"It’s an exciting opportunity and one I’m looking forward to getting stuck into," said Coyle, who spent time with the Renegades squad during WBBL|02.

"The club has worked hard to create a really good culture around this team and heading into the third season of the competition, we know what to expect, how strong the teams are and what it takes to be successful."

The Renegades have yet to feature in the WBBL finals, finishing eighth in their inaugural season before a seventh-placed finish in WBBL|02.

The new role will not impact Coyle’s work with the Southern Stars, who are currently undergoing a three-week training camp in Brisbane as they prepare for their upcoming World Cup campaign in England.

Australia will also host England in the Ashes from late October ahead of the WBBL|03 season.

“The WBBL competition continues to grow and we’re pleased to welcome Tim’s knowledge and experience in leading our WBBL team and also to have retained Lachlan’s skills at the Renegades and match that with our BBL team – many of who he knows particularly well through his coaching role with the Victorian Bushrangers,” Melbourne Renegades CEO Stuart Coventry said.