Kellyann Huggins is not only the Assistant Coach of the NSW First Nations netball team, but a part-time detective based in Cessnock and a mum. Between looking after a 2-year-old, solving cases and planning attacking structures, Kellyann’s commitment to community, culture and coaching is nothing short of extraordinary.
“I started playing netball when I was about seven,” she recalls. “I was the only girl on my soccer team and didn’t love that experience, so when I discovered netball, I never looked back.” Her netball journey began at Maitland Netball Association, where she now coaches, bringing her career full circle.
Kellyann’s talent as a player saw her rise through the Netball NSW pathway, selected for underage Australian squads and spending a year at the Australian Institute of Sport. But at 21, she made the difficult decision to hang up the bib. “There wasn’t really a professional future in netball back then, and I needed to build a career.” That led her into policing, and she now serves as a detective in Cessnock.
Her posting to Dubbo early in her police career became a turning point—not only professionally, but personally. “I wanted a way to connect with community outside of the uniform,” she says. “And for me, that was always going to be through sport.” She threw herself into netball, basketball and touch football, building trust and connections through shared passion.
Returning to the Hunter, Kellyann’s coaching career blossomed. She took on representative coaching at Maitland, worked with the Hunter Academy of Sport, and gained invaluable exposure to the Netball NSW talent pathway. “That academy space was massive. You get players at 14 and you help shape them to give them the best chance of making state programs.”
Kellyann’s coaching evolved further with the growth of Indigenous netball programs in NSW. “There’s just so much untapped talent in the regions,” she says. “Kids who don’t have access to Netball Central, who don’t get to play in Premier League or train three times a week with elite support.”
As a proud Gomeroi woman, Kellyann is deeply aware of the barriers Indigenous athletes face—not just geographic and financial, but also cultural and emotional. “Walking into Netball Central can be daunting,” she says. “You go from being the best in your Saturday team to being surrounded by players just as good as you. It can shake your confidence if the environment isn’t right.”
That’s why Kellyann is so committed to creating safe, supportive spaces—on and off the court. “Some athletes have questions they sit on for weeks, afraid to ask. I want them to know they can call me, ask anything, and be heard. We need to normalise their presence in these elite spaces, so it doesn’t feel like they don’t belong—because they do.”
This philosophy extends to helping players navigate the “off-court” side of elite sport—recovery routines, travel logistics, team environments. “Some of the athletes have never stayed in a hotel or travelled without family. So teaching them how to manage that is just as important as teaching them a new play.”
Kellyann was Assistant Coach at the inaugural First Nations Netball Nationals in 2024, an experience she describes as “incredible.” She coached alongside Colleen Mitchell and credits the campaign as a major development point in her own coaching journey. “We had a group of athletes I already knew well, and they played some of the best netball I’ve ever seen. It was a beautiful mix of community and competition.”
With the 2025 tournament around the corner, the anticipation is building. “This year, it’s a full round-robin format. Everyone gets to play everyone—it takes the luck of the draw out and levels the playing field.”
More than just a tournament, the First Nations Nationals represents opportunity—for players and coaches alike. “You can’t replicate the intensity of NSW vs QLD at a training session. You only get that experience by playing, by being there. And for some of these athletes, it’s a launchpad. Last year, a few went on to be selected for NSW state teams.”
While she continues working part-time as a detective, Kellyann devotes countless hours each week to netball. Based in North Rothbury, she often drives over two hours each way to attend training sessions at Netball Central in the lead up to the First Nations Tournament. “Last year we trained every Wednesday for six weeks. This year we’ve added Saturdays and Sundays to the mix. Plus, there’s all the session planning and coach meetings on top.”
She’s currently accredited at the Intermediate coaching level, and is well into her Advanced accreditation, with plans to complete her final assessment in August.
Her goal is simple, yet powerful: to keep showing up for Indigenous athletes. “This is where I’m meant to be,” she says. “I believe in the program, I believe in the pathway. If I can create a space that allows these players to grow—not just as athletes, but as people—then I know I’ve done my job.”
