The coach of the Hawkes Bay national basketball league side, Shawn Dennis, has been appointed coach of the New Zealand women's team.
Dennis, is a former assistant coach of the Tall Ferns, and has signed a two year contract replacing Mike McHugh who stood down from the role in February.
Ahead of the Tall Ferns this year is the two-game Oceania Women's Championship series against the defending world champion Australia Opals in early September.
With only one Oceania berth available at next year's world champs in the Czech Republic, the Tall Ferns will need an historic upset over the world number three-ranked Opals to qualify.
