Things are looking up for Pulse coach

BY PENNY MILES

Never-say-die coach Yvette McCausland-Durie has set her sights high this season.

While a crack at the playoffs may still be out of reach for the Central Pulse, given the strength of the five Australian teams, that's the goal the Wellington-based side is gunning for.

"We've got depth, we've got experience, and with experience has come expectation," McCausland-Durie said.

"Last year, we would have come sixth had we won those two close games, so we want to try and hit the top four."

The Palmerston North-based former schoolteacher took on plenty when she accepted the Pulse job in December 2008. Many, including her husband, thought the former New Zealand midcourter and then national under-21 coach was crazy to touch the side.

The team had been on a losing run. Star defender Sonia Mkoloma and captain Frances Solia had left. Then there was the small matter of financial and management difficulties.

But McCausland-Durie, who had coached the Western Flyers in the national league, saw an opportunity.

Her first job was to find a team. No player worth their salt would join the losing side, so she set about recruiting up-and-comers.

It was a less than ideal preparation.

Fast forward to the boilover win over the NSW Swifts last June, and the franchise's stocks were finally moving ahead. The board offered McCausland-Durie a two-year contract, pleased with her determination, despite the lack of on-court results.

This summer the roster had stabilised, and Silver Ferns defender Katrina Grant became the prime acquisition. Up-and comers Paula Griffin and Camilla Lees also re-signed.

"We're all in this together," McCausland-Durie said. "The players haven't come here for their own glory, they've come to keep the franchise moving forward."

The team found a sponsor and was able to attend pre-season events in Queenstown and Sydney. "This year we've been fortunate with the number of games that we've had. We've played all the teams except for the Magic, and even the midweek games have helped," she said.

"We've had more time to practise. The other thing we've been able to do, with everyone living in Wellington, is to improve the team's conditioning."

There have been changes on the coaching front too.

Former New Zealand captain and assistant Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu signed as Pulse technical adviser late last year.

"I've found her brilliant, absolutely brilliant," McCausland-Durie said.

Taumaunu will occasionally intervene at training. "I'll let her take that defensive group and say what she has to say. The players have a lot of respect for her."

This year McCausland-Durie has given away her teaching job at Tu Toa, a Maori sports school she launched with her husband Nathan Durie, and is no longer preparing the under-21 team for the World Youth Cup.

However, she still coaches the Tu Toa team which last year won the national secondary schools title.

"They're a nice break. It gives me a chance to practise a few things before I get to Pulse training.

"There is pressure in coaching senior players, and this year I've got more senior players than I've ever had before. That's a learning curve for me as well."

AT A GLANCE

Name: Yvette McCausland-Durie

Born: Whangarei

Home: Palmerston North

Occupation: Full-time coach & former schoolteacher

Coaching history: Central Pulse (2009-), New Zealand under-21 (2006-2009), New Zealand under-21 assistant coach (2004-2005), Western Flyers (2004-2005)

Awards: Maori coach of the year (2007), Sparc Accelerator Programme for coaches (2009)

Playing career: New Zealand under-21, NZ squad, National Bank Cup (1992-2001)

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