Softball Australia is excited to announce a number of key appointments to the Australian Women’s National Team, the Aussie Spirit. 

Four-time Olympian and one of the most decorated athletes in Australian softball history, Tanya Harding has been appointed as the Battery Coach for the Aussie Spirit. Tanya brings an unmatched level of expertise and insight into what it takes to perform on the world stage. Her leadership will be instrumental in developing our pitching and catching group as they build towards LA 2028.

Former Australian representative and accomplished catcher, Kym Tollenaere will join the Aussie Spirit team as an Assistant Coach. Kym brings valuable international playing experience alongside her current role as Head Coach of the Queensland Heat. Known for her strong leadership, athlete development focus, and ability to foster high-performance environments, Kym will be a key asset as we prepare for upcoming international campaigns.

Ben Lucas also joins the Aussie Spirit as an Assistant Coach, bringing a diverse and comprehensive background in elite softball and broader high-performance sport. With over a decade of coaching experience and a Master’s degree in High Performance Sport, Ben brings valuable insight into both athlete preparation and program design. His experience across multiple sports and national programs will be a great asset to our team environment.

Neridah Wearne (Ned) will continue in her critical role as a Gen 32 Coach, working across the Aussie Spirit program from open age through to U18s. In addition to this, Ned leads our Futures Program, which focuses on identifying and accelerating emerging talent across the country. Having Ned’s expertise embedded across multiple programs is key to both our short- and long-term success. Her ability to support athletes at different stages of their development ensures consistency in performance standards, communication, and team culture.

To further strengthen our coaching capacity, Sally McCreedy will provide additional support as we expand our national coaching pool. She brings valuable experience and a strong commitment to creating high-performance environments. Sally's inclusion is part of a broader strategy to invest in and develop a sustainable, world-class coaching team.

Finally, we’re excited to welcome Jake Cowin as our new Strength & Conditioning Coach. Jake has worked extensively in elite sport, including with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport and decentralised athletes around Australia. He is known for his strong communication, tailored programming, and ability to align physical preparation with performance and well-being.

Softball Australia’s National High Performance Director, Peta Searle expressed that “this is a highly experienced and passionate group of staff who are all committed to helping the team as athletes and as people. I’m confident their impact will strengthen our program now and well into the future”.

The Aussie Spirit will tour Japan at the end of June as part of their ongoing development and in preparation for The World Games 2025 in August.