Sonia Mkoloma leaves role as Roses Pathway Head Coach to take up Netball Super League Head Coach role

After four years, Mkoloma leaves England Netball to take up the Head Coach position at Birmingham Panthers Netball Super League (NSL) Club.

Mkoloma, who earned 123 caps for England as a player, leaves an important legacy after four years in the England Netball Performance team, both as Vitality Roses Assistant Coach and Roses Pathway Head Coach, a role which she will leave in October after the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.

Discussing her new role, Mkoloma said: "It is with a heavy heart that I step away from my role as England Netball Roses Pathway Head Coach. It has been an incredible journey and I am so proud of the progress we have made in supporting and developing young talent. To all the players who I have had the privilege to work with - thank you. Your commitment, resilience and passion have inspired me every single day, and I’ll always be proud of your growth both on and off the court as you strive to don the Red Roses dress.

“Whilst I’m sad to be leaving, I'm equally excited about the opportunity ahead, and I'm so excited to be joining Birmingham Panthers as Head Coach. This is a new chapter for my growth and development as a coach and I am looking forward to building something special with the Panthers."

England Netball Performance Director David Parsons added: “I’m thrilled for Sonia that she has been offered this opportunity to lead the team at Birmingham Panthers. She has had such a positive impact during her four year tenure with England Netball, firstly as Vitality Roses Assistant Coach where she played such a key role in the team achieving a historic silver medal in Cape Town, and more latterly as Roses Pathway Head Coach where she oversaw enhancements to the Future Roses and Roses Academy programmes, and the Roses Pathway staff team.

“In her new role I am sure she will continue to have the opportunity to support our most talented athletes as well as growing and testing herself in a new performance leadership role. I wish her well, thank her for her considerable impact, and look forward to supporting her and the team as they head to the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.”

As a player Mkoloma represented England in five Netball World Cups, earning bronze medals in 1999, 2011 and 2015 and three Commonwealth Games, earning bronze medals in 2006 and 2010. She took on the role of Vitality Roses Assistant Coach in June 2021, playing a critical part in securing England’s historic silver medal at the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, before moving into a new role as Roses Pathway Head Coach in March 2024. Under Mkoloma's leadership, the Roses Pathway has seen significant change, including embedding a new full staff team and developing a clear identity that has given the pathway focus, direction and structure, aligning it more closely to both the Vitality Roses and the wider game. Mkoloma also led the first overseas age group tour since the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2025, taking an England U21 squad to Australia where they competed against U21 teams from both Australia and New Zealand. It is thanks to Mkoloma’s leadership and passion that the Roses Pathway has made such significant strides forwards in how it supports athletes’ progression into the Vitality Roses.

The Head Coach role at Birmingham Panthers is one of great responsibility and influence, and Mkoloma’s appointment will serve to add to the quality of coaching resource available around the country to support England’s most talented players. England Netball are delighted to see Mkoloma rewarded for her growth as both a coach and a leader and look forward to continuing to work closely with her in her new role.

Recruitment for a new Roses Pathway Head Coach will begin shortly and, in the meantime, all attention remains on supporting Sonia and the U21 squad as they prepare for the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar in September 2025.